Newsletter

Hot Time in the Heartland

Hot Time in the Heartland – Part II

Hollywood Park’s Beverly Hills

Churchill Downs’ Debutant Stakes

Thoroughbred Racing Action

Harness Stakes Action

——————————————————————————————————————————————-

Hot Time in the Heartland
$300k Cornhusker Handicap

The two-day Iowa Festival of Racing at Prairie Meadows concludes with the $300,000 Grade II Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap. A field of nine will vie for the winner’s circle in the 1 1/8-mile handicap. Leading the way will be Calvin Borel, the first jockey to win the Kentucky Derby three times in four years, and Grade I winner – nine-year-old Brass Hat.

Brass Hat is switching back to dirt after spending the last year running in turf marathons. Brass Hat, a gelding, who won the 2006 Donn Handicap, has not started on dirt since February ’09. He captured only one of nine turf starts, all in graded stakes, during that period but finished in the top three on six other occasions for trainer Buff Bradley.

Mythical Power, winner of last year’s Lone Star Derby, won the Texas Mile Stakes on April 24th at Lone Star by a neck over Euroears but enters off an eighth-place finish in the Lone Star Park Handicap on May 23rd.

Going Ballistic, winner of the Grade II 2007 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs, is winless in four starts this season but finished second in the MAXXAM Gold Cup Handicap on March 27th at Sam Houston Race Park and third in his previous outing in the Jim Rasmussen Memorial Stakes on May 29th at Prairie Meadows.

Other contenders include; Slew’s Tizzy, who is making his first start since December 2008; and Red Lead, who won the local Cornhusker prep, the Jim Rasmussen. The field is rounded out by Golden Yank, Shadowbdancing, King Dan, and Racing Bran.

Hot Time in the Heartland – Part II
$250k Iowa Derby

Thiskyhasnolimit will shoot for his second consecutive victory and second career graded stakes win when he takes on Grade III winner Winslow Homer and four other three-year-olds in the $250,000 Grade III Iowa Derby on Saturday. The Iowa Derby, to be run at 1 1/16 miles, drew a field of six.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, Thiskyhasnolimit won the Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs last season and opened his 2010 campaign with a three-quarter-length victory in the Matt Winn Stakes on May 15th at Churchill Downs.

Grade 3 winner Winslow Homer enters the 1 1/16-mile race for three-year-olds off a three-quarter-length victory on January 23rd in the Holy Bull Stakes, which set him up as a contender on the Triple Crown trail until he suffered a stress fracture to the right front cannon bone that forced him to the sidelines for several months.

The gray colt, trained by Tony Dutrow, has won three of his four career starts with a third-place finish in his career debut last July.

Also entered in the compact field of six is Lazaro Barrera Memorial Stakes  runner-up and West Coast invader Concord Point, who has won one of three starts this season for trainer Bob Baffert, and stakes winner Vow to Wager.

Hollywood Park’s Beverly Hills
A Wide Open Affair

The Saturday running of the $100,000 Beverly Hills Handicap seems to be a wide open event after the Queen of the older female turf division – Tuscan Evening, will pass the Grade III, 1 1/4-mile turf event.

Tuscan Evening, who this year has five consecutive graded stakes wins seems to be pointed to  the Modesty Handicap at Arlington Park in July and perhaps the Grade I Beverly D. also at Arlington in August.

That leaves Princess Haya as the 117-pound high weight in the Beverly Hills, which drew a field of eight older fillies and mares. Princess Haya will be hard pressed by Turning Top, who has a three-race win streak at shorter distances. Turning Top’s last two victories came on the Hollywood Park turf. She has won three of five starts on the grass at Santa Anita and Hollywood this year.

The 4-year-old daughter of Pivotal won the one-mile Redondo Beach Stakes by a head in a game effort in her last start June 5th. Turning Top began her career in England, where she won twice, and she leads the field in victories with five from 14 races. Brice Blanc, who was aboard the dark bay filly in the Redondo Beach, retains the mount. They break from post 2 with 116 pounds.

Her main rivals appear to be Princess Haya, General Consensus, and Pretty Katherine

Princess Haya’s upset win in the Canadian Stakes at Woodbine last September makes her the lone graded winner in the field. But since a third-place finish in the E.P. Taylor Stakes a month later, Eileen H. Hartis’ 5-year-old Texas homebred hasn’t done much in two West Coast starts.

Princess Haya began her 2010 campaign with a fifth-place effort in the Wilshire Handicap at Hollywood May 1st. She then finished last of seven, 13 lengths behind Tuscan Evening, in the Gamely Stakes in her last try on May 29th.Christian Santiago Reyes takes over on Princess Haya, who will break from post 3. She will race without the blinkers she wore for the Gamely.

General Consensus figures to appreciate the return to 10 furlongs and will surely relish not facing Tuscan Evening, who beat her the past three times. General Consensus made a strong bid in the 1 1/4-mile Santa Barbara Handicap two starts back at Santa Ana, finishing second, one length behind Tuscan Evening. But she failed to show that same late kick when fifth in the nine-furlong Gamely, finishing fifth.

General Consensus, a 5-year-old daughter of Giant’s Causeway, has won four of 17 starts and is looking for her first stakes triumph. Rafael Bejarano rides for trainer Paddy Gallagher, who also saddles the outsider Princess Taylor for the first time in the Beverly Hills.

Pretty Katherine, comes off a victory over a strong allowance field on May 19th. That was her first win in three tries on grass since she has mostly run on synthetic tracks. The 4-year-old Vindication filly has won four of 18 starts in her career. Tyler Baze, who rode Pretty Katherine in her recent win, is aboard once again.

Restless Soul, third in the Santa Barbara in her last start, is one of two entered by Ben Cecil, who also has Lady Francesca. Catsalot, an optional claiming allowance winner last time at Golden Gate Fields, completes the field.

Churchill Downs’ Debutant Stakes
2 Year Olds Take to Track

This Saturday, Churchill Downs will host the 115^th running of the Debutante Stakes a Grade III, six-furlong sprint for 2-year-old fillies. The $100,000 purse has attracted a field of seven was entered for this storied event.

Steve Asmussen, who won the Debutante Stakes for three consecutive years from 2005-07 and four times overall, has another chance this year with Heiligbrodt Racing Stable’s homebred Tristanme, who broke her maiden last out at Woodbine and will make her dirt debut in the $100,000 Debutante.

Tristanme failed in two attempts at Keeneland this spring before scoring by a length going 4 1/2 furlongs on June 5th on the Woodbine Polytrack. Shaun Bridgmohan, a two-time winner of the Debutante, has the mount.

Heiligbrodt, Asmussen, and Bridgmohan all teamed up to win the Debutante in 2006 with Richwoman and again the following year with Rated Fiesty. Asmussen also won in 2001 with Cashier’s Dream and in 2005 with Effectual.

The 120-pound high weight is William Dorminy’s Internet Cafe, an allowance winner at Churchill on May 31^st. The daughter of Freefourinternet won that five-furlong contest by a nose, 10 days after breaking her maiden by six lengths over the same track. This time, she will break from the outside post with Oriani Rossi in the irons.

Dorminy and Hancock will also saddle Bach Hamilton, a Cherokee Run filly who broke her maiden in her fourth try May 30th in a $50,000 claimer.

Salty Strike was flawless in her racing debut May 14th at Churchill, going wire-to-wire and drawing off by 4 1/4 lengths to win going away. Calvin Borel will ride for Ken McPeek, who tries for his first Debutante victory.

Also a winner in her only start was Eldon Farm Equine’s Just Louise, who scored by 3 1/4 lengths going five furlongs May 28th. Robby Albarado, seeking his third Debutante victory, was aboard for the maiden score and will ride for Dale Romans

Thoroughbred Racing Action
Weekend Stakes Action

With the summer heat reaching all four corners of the U.S., Iowa becomes the nation’s hot-spot this weekend with their Festival of Racing. Watch these and more all on BetAmerica.com.

Friday – June 25

• Churchill Downs: Kelly’s Landing, $50,000, 3&up, 7f.
• Marquis Downs: Mademoiselle Handicap, $7,500, 3&up, f/m, 6f.
• Prairie Meadows: Iowa Sprint Handicap, $125,000, 3&up, 6f.
• Prairie Meadows: Iowa Distaff, $100,000, 3&up, f/m, 8.5f.
• Prairie Meadows: Saylorville Stakes, $100,000, 3&up, f/m, 6f.
• Presque Isle Downs: Leematt Stakes, $75,000, 3&up, 6f.
• Presque Isle Downs: Northern Fling Stakes, $75,000, 3&up, f/m, 6f.

Saturday – June 26

• Arlington Park: Arlington Sprint, $75,000, 3&up, 5.5f (turf).
• Calder Race Course: Cool Air Stakes, $50,000, 3&up, f/m, 5f (turf).
• Churchill Downs: Debutante Stakes, $100,000, 2yo f, 6f.
• Colonial Downs: Brookmeade Stakes, $50,000, 3&up, f/m, 8f (turf).
• Fairmount Park: Table the Motion Handicap, $11,000, 4&up, f/m, 8f.
• Hollywood Park: Beverly Hills Handicap – G3, $100,000g, 3&up, f/m, 10f (turf).
• Monmouth Park: Boiling Springs Stakes – G3, $150,000, 3yo f, 8.5f (turf).
• Monmouth Park: Lighthouse Stakes, $100,000, 3&up, f/m, 8.5f.
• Monmouth Park: Malouf Auto Group Starter #2, $50,000, 3&up, 8.5f (turf).
• Philadelphia Park: Donald LeVine Memorial Handicap, $200,000, 3&up, 7f.
• Pinnacle Race Course: Lansing Stakes, $50,000, 3yo, c/g, 6f.
• Pleasanton: Alameda County F&M Handicap, $50,000, 3&up, f/m, 8.5f.
• Prairie Meadows: Iowa Derby – G3, $250,000, 3yo, 8.5f.
• Prairie Meadows: Cornhusker BC Handicap – G2, $250,000, 3&up, 9f.
• Prairie Meadows: Iowa Oaks – G3, $200,000, 3yo f, 8.5f.
• Ruidoso: Mountain Top Futurity, $200,000, 2yo, New Mexico-bred, 5f.
• SunRay Park: Dr. O.G. Fischer Memorial Handicap, $50,000, 3&up, f/m, 7f.

Sunday – June 27

• Calder Race Course: Noble Robyn Stakes, $50,000, 3yo f, 8.5f (turf).
• Emerald Downs: Pepsi-Cola Handicap, $50,000, 3yo, c/g, 8f.
• Hollywood Park: Robert K. Kerlan Memorial Handicap, $60,000, 3&up, 6f (turf).
• Monmouth Park: Blue Sparkler Stakes, $100,000, 3&up, f/m, 6f.
• Monmouth Park: Crank It Up Stakes, $100,000, 3yo f, 5.5f (turf).
• River Downs: Cincinnatian Stakes, $50,000, 3yo f, Ohio-bred, 8.5f (turf).
• Yavapai Downs: Yavapai County Futurity, $20,000, 2yo, Arizona-bred, 5f.

Harness Stakes Action
This Weekend’s Stakes Action

Watch and Wager on these fantastic Harness stakes races this week:

Friday – June 25

• Hoosier Park: The Sandra Lil, $15,000, 2yo, Filly Pace
• Hoosier Park: The Abercrombie, $15,000, 2yo, C&G Pace
• The Meadowlands: NJSS, $70,000, 2yo, Filly Pace
• The Meadowlands: NJSS, $70,000, 2yo, C&G Pace
• The Meadowlands: Titan Cup, $40,000, Free For All Trot
• Vernon Downs: NYSS, $200,000 3yo, C&G Trot

Saturday – June 26

• Hoosier Park: Indiana SS, $40,000, 3yo, Filly Pace
• Hoosier Park: Indiana SS, $40,000, 3yo, C&G Pace
• Hoosier Park: Indiana SS, $40,000, 3yo, Filly Trot
• Hoosier Park: Indiana SS, $40,000, 3yo, C&G Trot
• Hoosier Park: Dan Patch, $200,000, Open Pace
• Hoosier Park: The Abercrombie, $15,000, 2yo, C&G Pace
• Kawartha Downs: OSS Grassroots, $24,000, 3yo, C&G Trot
• Meadows: PASS, $200,000, 3yo, C&G Trot
• Yonkers: NYSS, $200,000, 3yo, Filly Trot

Sunday – June 27

• Pocono: PASS, $200,000, 3yo, C&G Pace
• Scarborough: Maine SS, $41,000, 3yo, C&G Pace
• Tioga Downs: Williams Auto, $33,000, 4&5yo OpenTrot
• Tioga Downs: Nichols True Value, $33,000, 4&5yo Open Pace

These Girls Are Hot

KY Derby Runners Invade Virginia

Down by the Jersey Shore Once Again

Thoroughbred Racing Action

Harness Stakes Action

——————————————————————————————————————————————-

These Girls Are Hot
Big Three Steal The Show

Many handicappers and fans were treating to superb racing last weekend when many feel that racing enters the doldrums after the Triple Crown campaign. Nothing can be further from the truth.

Last weekend, three horses kicked off summer with a bang and were in the spotlight for their efforts, oh, and all were ladies. Zenyatta, Rachel Alexandra and Goldikova, outshone their rivals while winning in style.

Zenyatta’s win in the $250,000 Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park was her 17^th victory…in a row and third this season. The victory moves Zenyatta past Citation, Cigar, and Mister Frisky for the most consecutive wins in modern times in races not restricted to state breds. The 1-2 favorite Zenyatta, carried 129 pounds, nine more than second place finisher, St Trinians. Zenyatta won the Vanity last year also carrying 129 pounds and won by 2 1/2 lengths, starting her current streak of Grade 1 victories that now stands at seven.

Zenyatta has 11 Grade I triumphs overall, including an unprecedented victory over males in the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic and went over $6 million in career earnings while completing the 1 1/8-mile Vanity.

Zenyatta is closing in on the female earnings record for horses that have raced in North America of $6,334,296 established by Ouija Board, who retired in 2006.

The other darling of racing, Rachel Alexandra, the 2009 Horse of the Year, drew away in the Grade 2, $200,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap. Sent off at prohibitive odds of 1-10 while carrying 124 pounds, she shook off pace rivals and won by 10 1/2 lengths.

Rachel Alexandra, won all eight of her starts in 2009, began her current campaign with second-place finishes in the New Orleans Ladies Stakes at Fair Grounds and Churchill’s La Troienne. Rachel Alexandra secured her first win since defeating males in Saratoga’s Woodward Stakes (gr. I) last September. She earned $132,680 for her 12th lifetime win in 17 starts and boosted her career bankroll to $3,206,730.

In merry old England, our last hot lady, Goldikova, opened the Royal Ascot meet with an aristocratic performance in the Queen Anne Stakes as she held off the late-charging Paco Boy by a head in the one-mile Group 1 contest. The two-time Breeders’ Cup Mile  winner has now won nine group I/grade I races in her career, including two more this season. Six of those wins were against males.

A field of 10 went to the post for the Queen Anne, highlighted by not only Goldikova, but also by Paco Boy and Rip Van Winkle.  Paco Boy, a 5-year-old horse by Desert Style, captured this race last year and entered the contest off an impressive victory in the Totesport.com Lockinge Stakes last month.

Rip Van Winkle was making his seasonal debut, but had been training very well in Ireland for Aidan O’Brien. The 4-year-old colt locked horns several times with the impressive Sea The Stars last year, but still captured two group I races before finishing a disappointing 10th in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

So if you think racing in the summer is a letdown, keep an eye on these ladies and other great turf racing from Arlington Park and Colonial Downs…and for you purists who don’t like summer racing, the Breeder’s Cup is only 138 days away.

KY Derby Runners Invade Virginia
Colonial Downs $500,000 Colonial Turf Cup

This Saturday a pair of Kentucky Derby runners invade Colonial Downs and take to the turf in the $500,000 Grade 2 Colonial Turf Cup. The 6^th running of the Cup drew a field of seven. Leading the way is Paddy O’Prado and Dean’s Kitten. Paddy O’Prado is the best finishing Triple Crown horse to ever run in the Turf Cup since its inception in 2005.

Paddy O’Prado, who finished third in the With Anticipation Stakes before breaking his maiden in Gulfstream’s Palm Beach Stakes. The grey colt then switched racing surfaces and went on to a second place finish in the Blue Grass Stakes on a fast dirt track before running third in the Kentucky Derby. In his most recent start, the Preakness Stakes, Paddy O’Prado ran sixth. Having finished in the money in six of eight lifetime starts, the colt has earned $464,497 and will be ridden by Kent Desormeaux and will start from the rail in the one post.

In the second post is Workin For Hops, who broke his maiden by an impressive seven lengths his first time out, but encountered trouble in the American Turf. He redeemed himself in his most recent start by taking the $100,000 Arlington Classic. In four tries on the turf, Workin For Hops has lost only once and has earnings of $142,976. E. T. Baird has the mount.

Kindergarden Kid, will break from the third post position. After finishing fourth in his first start, the Dynaformer colt broke his maiden and went on to win his most recent race, an allowance optional claimer at Belmont. He has earned a bankroll of $54,200 in his short career on the turf, and will be ridden by regular rider Cornelio Velasquez.

In the fourth post is Vamos a Ver, who broke his maiden on third asking despite his rider dropping his whip. He then went on to finish sixth in an allowance at Keeneland before winning an allowance optional claimer at Tampa Bay. In his most recent start, Vamos a Ver led the entire way at Colonial Downs to win by 1 ¾ lengths. The colt has finished out of the money in two of six lifetime starts, with earnings of $58,771. Edgar Prado has the mount.

Doubles Partner, a Rock Hard Ten colt trained by Todd Pletcher, will go to post in the fifth hole. Having finished in the money in four of seven starts, the colt’s greatest victory came in his most recent race, the American Turf at Churchill Downs. Doubles Partner, who will be ridden by Garret Gomez, has never lost on the turf and has earned a bankroll of over $180,000 lifetime.

Dean’s Kitten, a colt who has earned over $415,000 lifetime, drew post position six. Dean’s Kitten broke his maiden on third asking at Saratoga’s turf course. He went on to run decently in several stakes races, including a win in the Vision Stakes at Belmont and a sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, before winning his first graded stakes race, the Lanes End, at Turfway on his first try on dirt. His most recent start, the Kentucky Derby, resulted in a fourteenth place finish after a tight start. Alan Garcia is scheduled to ride the Kitten’s Joy colt.

Last in the seven post is Two Notch Road. After going winless in three starts, Two Notch Road took the Continental Mile Stakes at Gulfstream Park at odds of 107 to 1. Trainer Glenn Thompson then sent the gelding to Saratoga for a seventh place finish in the With Anticipation Stakes before returning the horse to Monmouth Park this year, where he won an allowance race by two lengths. Two Notch Road, will be ridden by local rider Sheldon Russell and has won three of seven lifetime starts, with earnings of $81,688.

Down by the Jersey Shore Once Again
Triple Crown Runners Key in $200k Pegasus Stakes

Once again, Monmouth Park in New Jersey serves up some excellent racing on Saturday with the 29^th running of the $200,000 Pegasus Stakes and leading the charge in the field of six is Jackson Bend and Schoolyard Dreams.

The mile and a sixteenth race also serves as a prep race for the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational, to be run on August 1st. The Pegasus’s position on the calendar allows for six weeks before the Haskell. The traditional Haskell prep, the Long Branch, will once again be renewed on July 10th, three weeks before the $1 million Haskell.

Thoroughbred Racing Action
Weekend Stakes Action

Father’s day is full of exciting racing action…Arlington Park and Charles Town feature tons of home-bred stakes races and Colonial Downs’ $500k Turf Cup. Watch these and more all on BetAmerica.com.

Friday – June 18

• Assiniboia Downs: Chantilly Stakes, $30,000, 3yo f, 6f.
• Assiniboia Downs: Frank Arnason Sire Stakes, $30,000, 3yo, Manitoba-bred, 6f.
• Churchill Downs: Morluc Stakes, $50,000, 3&up, 5f (turf).

Saturday – June 19

• Arapahoe Park: Aspen, $30,000, 3&up, c/g, Colorado-bred, 6f.
• Arapahoe Park: Stallion Stakes, $12,000, 3yo f, Colorado-bred, 7f.
• Arlington Park: Black Tie Affair Handicap, $100,000, 3&up, 8.5f (turf).
• Arlington Park: Isaac Murphy Handicap, $100,000, 3&up, f/m, 6f.
• Arlington Park: Lincoln Heritage Handicap, $100,000, 3&up, f/m, 8.5f (turf).
• Arlington Park: Purple Violet Stakes, $100,000, 3yo f, 8f.
• Arlington Park: Springfield Stakes, $100,000, 3yo, 8f.
• Arlington Park: White Oak Handicap, $100,000, 3&up,  6f.
• Assiniboia Downs: Golden Boy Stakes, $30,000, 3yo, 6f.
• Assiniboia Downs: Hazel Wright Sire Stakes $30,000, 3yo f, Manitoba-bred, 6f.
• Calder Race Course: Reappeal Stakes, $50,000, 3&up, 5f (turf).
• Charles Town: Red Legend Stakes, $400,000, 3yo, 7f.
• Charles Town: Charles Town Invitational Dash, $100,000, 3&up, 4.5f.
• Charles Town: Lady Charles Town Stakes, $100,000, 3yo f, 4.5f.
• Charles Town: Wild and Wonderful Stakes, $100,000, 3&up, 7f.
• Charles Town: Coin Collector Stakes, $50,000, 3yo, 4.5f.
• Charles Town: Fancy Buckles Stakes, $50,000, 3&up, f/m, 4.5f.
• Colonial Downs: Colonial Turf Cup – G2, $500,000, 3yo, 9.5f (turf).
• Colonial Downs: All Along B.C. Stakes –G3, $100,000, 3&up, f/m, 9f (turf).
• Colonial Downs: Buckland Stakes, $50,000, 3&up, f/m, 5.5f (turf).
• Colonial Downs: Old Nelson Handicap, $30,000, 3&up, 9.5f (turf).
• Delaware Park: John W. Rooney Memorial Stakes, $75,000, 3&up, f/m, 8.5f (turf).
• Hollywood Park: Affirmed Handicap – G3, $100,000, 3yo, 8.5f.
• Monmouth Park: Pegasus Stakes – G3, $200,000, 3yo, 8.5f.
• Northlands Park: Western Canada Handicap, $50,000, 3yo, 6f.
• Ruidoso Downs: Free Spirit Handicap, $40,000, 3&up, 6f.
• SunRay Park: Aztec Oaks, $75,000, 3yo f, New Mexico-bred, 6.5f.
• SunRay Park: Ken Kendrick Memorial Stakes, $75,000, 2yo f, 4.5f.
• Thistledown: J. William Petro Memorial Handicap, $50,000, 3&up, f/m, 8.5f.

Sunday – June 20

• Arapahoe Park: Molly Brown, $30,000, 3&up, f/m, 6f.
• Canterbury Park: Princess Elaine Stakes, $50,000, 3&up, f/m, 8.5f (turf).
• Canterbury Park: Shot of Gold Stakes, $35,000, 3&up, 6f.
• Emerald Downs: Budweiser Handicap, $50,000, 3&up, 8f.
• Hollywood Park: Will Rogers Stakes – G3, $100,000, 3yo, 8.5f (turf).
• Monmouth Park: Anderson Fowler Stakes, $100,000, 3yo, 5.5f (turf).
• Monmouth Park: Bernie Dowd Handicap, $100,000, 3&up, New Jersey-bred, 8.32f.
• Northlands Park: Wild Rose Handicap, $50,000, 3&up, f/m, 6f.

Harness Stakes Action
This Weekend’s Stakes Action

Watch and Wager on these fantastic Harness stakes races this week:

Friday – June 18

• Chester: PASS, $200,000, 3 yo, Filly Pace

Saturday – June 19

• Flamboro: Elamony, 100,000, , 4 yo & Up, Mare Pace
• Flamboro: OSS Grassroots, $24,000, 3 yo, Filly Pace
• Meadows: PASS, $200,000, 3 yo, Filly Trot
• Tioga Downs: Nichols True Value, $9,500, 4&5 yo Open Pace

Sunday – June 20

• Harrington: DBSF, $20,000, 3 yo, C&G Trot
• Harrington: DBSF, $20,000, 3 yo, Filly Trot
• Tioga Downs: Williams Auto, $9,500, 4&5 yo OpenTrot