2010 July | BetAmerica.com Newsletter

Players Edge Newsletter – July 16, 2010

July 15th, 2010

Hollywood’s Swap Stakes

$600k Virginia Derby

$150k Arlington Handicap

$750k Delaware Park Handicap

Thoroughbred Racing Action

Harness Stakes Action

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Hollywood’s Swap Stakes
$500k on the Line

This Saturday, the $200,000 Grade I Swaps Stakes is the last Grade I event for the Hollywood Park meet and has only attracted a handful of runners. The 1 1/8-mile Swaps however attracted standout Sidney’s Candy. Making his first start back since the Kentucky Derby, he is the clear standout among the five 3-year-olds.

With several defections such as Golden Itiz, recent winner of the Affirmed Handicap, Pinal and Iowa Derby winner Concord Point, leaves Santa Anita Derby Sidney’s Candy as the one to beat as he attempts to rebound from his 17th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby.

Skipshot, Alphie’s Bet and Summer Movie, who ran second through fourth in the Affirmed and Twirling Candy, a second son of Candy Ride, fill out the field. Sidney’s Candy and Twirling Candy are a coupled entry. This makes Sidney’s Candy the post time favorite with a big bull’s-eye on his back.

Sidney’s Candy, who has won four of seven races with one second and earnings of $673,560, drew post 3 with Joe Talamo aboard once again. Talamo has ridden Sidney’s Candy, who carries top weight of 122 pounds, in all of his races.

The other half of the entry, Twirling Candy, is unbeaten in two starts, most recently crushing an optional claiming allowance field by 7 3/4 lengths while completing the 6 1/2 furlong race at Hollywood. Victor Espinoza rides Twirling Candy, who will carry 112 pounds.

The improving Skipshot, a winner of three consecutive races at Golden Gate Fields for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, is still seeking his first stakes victory. The Kentucky-bred son of Skip Away chased a fast pace in the 1 1/16-mile Affirmed and took a half length lead mid-stretch, but could not hold off Golden Itiz in the late stages, losing by a half length. Skipshot, fifth in the Santa Anita Derby, gets jockey Joel Rosario for the first time and carries 114 pounds.

Alphie’s Bet, who totes 120 pounds, has to hope there is pace pressure on Sidney’s Candy in order to have his best chance. Winner of the Sham Stakes this spring at Santa Anita, the colt also has a stakes win at Hollywood in the Snow Chief for California breds. Mike Smith, who won the Swaps in 2002 with Came Home and in 2007 with Tiago , retains the mount for trainer Alexis Barba.

Completing the field is Summer Movie, who was a decent fourth in the Affirmed, beaten by 2 3/4 lengths at odds of 21-1. A gray son of Holy Bull, Summer Movie has won two of six, both on turf.

$600k Virginia Derby
Colonial Downs Stakes-a Rama Saturday

This Saturday, Colonial Downs will host five stake on grass, highlighted by the Grade 2, $600,000 Virginia Derby. A field of eight will compete over the Secretariat Turf Course in Colonial Down’s richest race.

The 1 1/4-mile Virginia Derby is the 12^th of 14 races on the card which also includes the Grade 3, $150,000 Virginia Oaks a 1 1/8-mile turf race that drew ten 3-year-old fillies.

In the Virginia Derby, Paddy O’Prado has been listed as the 7-5 morning-line favorite and assigned post 7 in a field of eight 3-year-olds entered in the Colonial Downs showcase.

Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux will ride Paddy O’Prado for trainer Dale Romans. Paddy won Colonial’s Turf Cup on June 19^th by three lengths after Romans switched his El Prado colt back to a grass racing surface after finishing sixth in the Preakness May 15^th

Three opponents have reasonable chances to upset Paddy O’Prado…they are; Krypton, Interactif, and Stately Victor.

Interactif returns to his preferred surface after having finished seventh in the Belmont Stakes and is Second choice at 3-1. Before trying a pair of Triple Crown preps, the colt had established himself as a top turf performer in his class. Interactif has earnings of $355,000 and has been “in the money” in all four of his turf starts. Javier Castellano, the eighth leading money earning rider this year, has the mount.

Krypton is the morning line third choice and comes off a mild upset victory over heavily favored Nordic Truce in his last race, the Grade 3 Hill Prince at Belmont Park. Rajiv Maragh will pilot Krypton.

Stately Victor, who was eighth in both the Kentucky Derby & Belmont, also exits the Belmont after having done some of his best running on turf earlier in his career. . Ramon Dominguez, top rider in the country by wins and money earnings, has the mount atop Stately Victor

Rounding out the field are Formulaforsuccess and Victor Lebron, fresh off a turf allowance win at Churchill Downs, locally based Awesome Dream, who has had a second and fifth place finish in New Kent this summer, and Majestictroubadour with Rosemary Homeister Jr, broke his maiden at Colonial Downs in late June.

$150k Arlington Handicap
Stake Prep for Arlington Million

This year’s running of the Grade III $150,000 Arlington Handicap at Arlington Park is one of three major stakes that comprise the track’s Million Preview Day program. In addition to the Arlington Handicap, the 11-race card includes the Grade II $200,000 American Derby and the Grade III $150,000 Modesty Handicap.

The Arlington Handicap serves as the final local prep for the Grade I Arlington Million, which will be held August 21st, and will be run at the Million distance of a mile and a quarter over Arlington’s world famous turf course.

Leading the way into the Arlington Handicap is General Quarters, winner of the Grade I Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs in May. He faces ten rivals including defending 2009 Arlington Handicap winner Just as Well in the race.

General Quarters comes in off a third-place finish over dirt in the Grade I Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill last month and earlier this year was second in three main track stakes races at the Fair Grounds including the Grade II New Orleans Handicap.

As a 3-year-old last year, General Quarters won Tampa’s Grade III Sam F. Davis Stakes and Keeneland’s Grade I Blue Grass on the road to the 2009 Triple Crown, but was compromised by a rough trip in the Kentucky Derby and subsequently injured in the Preakness. General Quarters will carry co-highweight of 122 pounds including Rafael Bejarano, who rode General Quarters in the Turf Classic.

Also in at 122 pounds is Marsh Side, winner of the Grade I Northern Dancer Stakes at Woodbine last year and the Grade I Canadian International over that same course the previous year.

The 7-year-old Gone West horse, trained returns to the turf after disappointing runs on dirt in the Group I Japan Cup last November, and on the synthetic Pro Ride surface at Santa Anita in the Grade II San Antonio Handicap and Grade I Santa Anita Handicap. Robby Albarado has been named to ride.

Just as Well returns to Arlington in search of his first win since last year’s Arlington Handicap. The son of A. P. Indy followed his local score with a second-place finish to Gio Ponti in the Arlington Million and a runner-up placing behind Marsh Side in the Northern Dancer. His best effort this year was a second in the Grade II Dixie Stakes at Pimlico on Preakness Day. Assigned 119 pounds for Arlington Handicap, Just as Well will be ridden by Julien Leparoux.

Rahystrada, winner of the Grade III River City Handicap at Churchill last fall, most recently was third in the Dixie. The son of Rahy is trained by Byron Hughes and will be ridden by Inez Karlsson

Others in the field for Saturday’s Arlington Handicap include (with jockey and weight assignment): Free Fighter (Francisco Torres, 116 pounds), winner of the Grade III Louisville Handicap at Churchill in May; Giant Oak (Junior Alvarado, 116), reigning Illinois Horse of the Year; Princeville Condo (Jesus Castanon, 114), runner-up in the Illinois Owners Stakes and Black Tie Affair Handicap in his last two starts; and Tajaweed (Michael Baze, 114), an allowance winner over this course two starts back.

Also, Imponente Purse (James Graham, 113), group stakes placed in Brazil; Cross Village (E. T. Baird, 112), an allowance winner over this course; Rumor Has It (Florent Geroux, 110), a dual overnight stakes victor here last summer.

$750k Delaware Park Handicap
73^rd Running for Fillies

Saturday’s $750,000 Delaware Handicap has attracted six of the leading female thoroughbreds in the nation and has attracted an unusual group of runners including a millionaire filly who barely missed beating colts in two legs of the Canadian Triple Crown, a two-time graded stakes winner in New York, and a rags-to-riches mare who went from clearing her first allowance condition to Grade 1 winner during a seven-month span.

Aside from the winning purse, the winner of the 1 1/4-mile race gains automatic entry into this year’s Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic at Churchill Downs.

The Woodbine-based Milwaukee Appeal, along with New York standouts Funny Moon and Life at Ten are clearly the three prime contenders among a field of six fillies and mares who will contest the Grade 2, $750,000 Delaware Handicap.

Leading the way is Life At Ten, the 8-5 morning-line favorite. Life At Ten, winner of her last five starts. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the five-year-old mare will be ridden by John Velazquez from post six.

Perfect in three starts this year, Life At Ten is coming off a victory in the Ogden Phipps Handicap at Belmont Park on June 12th. In February she captured the Rare Treat Stakes at Aqueduct and followed with a win of the Sixty Sails at Hawthorne in April.

As a four-year-old Life At Ten closed 2009 with consecutive wins in an allowance race and the Snit Stakes. Life at Ten has put together a five-race winning streak that culminated with a wire-to-wire score in last month’s Grade I Ogden Phipps Handicap at Belmont. This will be her first race beyond 1 1/8 miles. She has won six of 13 career starts for $459,267.

Pletcher has won the Del ‘Cap three previous times, Irving’s Baby (2001), Fleet Indian (2006) and Unbridled Belle (2007).

The 2-1 second choice on the morning line is Milwaukee Appeal, best known for taking the 2009 Woodbine Oak. Last season, Milwaukee Appeal lost by a neck in the Queen’s Plate and came up a nose shy in the Prince of Wales, two legs of the Triple Crown for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds. A 4-year-old filly, Milwaukee Appeal is 0 for 3 on dirt, including a distant second as the favorite in last summer’s Grade I Alabama at Saratoga. Stewart Elliott will have the mount once again.

As a 3-year-old last year, Funny Moon won the Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks at the same 10-furlong distance as the Del Cap. This year, she captured the Grade 2 Shuvee going a one-turn mile at Belmont Park. Funny Moon, who will break from the rail under Garcia, will make her first start at Delaware. She is 5-2-1 from 10 starts overall.

Miss Singhsix finished third to Life At Ten in the Sixty Sails Handicap after a third in the Rampart Stakes at Gulfstream in March and February’s victory at Laurel Park of the Maryland Racing Media Stakes. Miss Singhsix comes back to Delaware after last month’s win of the Obeah Stakes at the track. The five-year-old mare will start from post two with Jose Valdivia, Jr. again riding. Miss Singhsix won Delaware Park’s $150,000 Obeah Stakes She has a career record of five wins in 19 starts with earnings of $317,138.

Here is the complete field for the Del ‘Cap in post position order: Funny Moon, Alan Garcia, 7-2; Miss Singhsix, Jose Valdivia, Jr., 5-1; Milwaukee Appeal, Stewart Elliott, 2-1; Million Seller, Jeremy Rose, 15-1; Miss Match, Brian Hernandez, Jr., 12-1 and Life At Ten, John Velazquez, 8-5.

Thoroughbred Racing Action
Weekend Stakes Action

BetAmerica.com is offering a ton of great stakes races on the dirt and turf this weekend. Arlington Park, Delaware Park, Colonial Downs, Hollywood Park, oh my!!! Watch these and more all on BetAmerica.com.

Friday – July 16

Assiniboia Downs: R.C. Anderson Stakes, $50,000, 3yo f, Manitoba-bred, 8f.
Assiniboia Downs: Debutante Stakes, $30,000, 2yo f, 5.5f.
Penn National: Day Lilly Stakes, $60,000, 3&up, f/m, 6f.

Saturday – July 17

Arapahoe Park: CTBA Futurity, $30,000, 2yo, Colorado-bred, 6f.
Arlington Park: American Derby – G2, $200,000, 3yo, 9.5f (turf).
Arlington Park: Arlington Handicap – G3, $150,000, 3&up, 10f (turf).
Arlington Park: Modesty Handicap – G3, $150,000, 3&up, f/m, 9.5f (turf).
Calder Race Course: Our Dear Peggy Stakes, $50,000, 3&up, f/m, 8.5f (turf).
Canterbury Park: Frances Genter Stakes, $35,000, 3yo f, Minnesota-bred, 6f.
Canterbury Park: Victor Myers Jr. Stakes, $35,000, 3yo c/g, Minnesota-bred, 6f.
Colonial Downs: Virginia Derby – G2, $600,000, 3yo, 10f (turf).
Colonial Downs: Virginia Oaks – G3, $150,000, 3yo f, 9f (turf).
Colonial Downs: Chenery Stakes, $50,000, 2yo, 5.5f (turf).
Colonial Downs: Kitten’s Joy Stakes, $50,000, 3&up, 8.5f (turf).
Colonial Downs: Tippett Stakes, $50,000, 2yo f, 5.5f (turf).
Delaware Park: Delaware Handicap – G2, $750,000, 3&up, f/m, 10f.
Delaware Park: Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes – G3, $150,000, 3&up, f/m, 11f (turf).
Delaware Park: R.R.M. Carpenter Jr. Memorial Stakes, $100,000, 3&up, 8.5f.
Ellis Park: Don Bernhardt Memorial Stakes, $50,000, 3&up, 6.5f.
Evangeline Downs: Oak Hall Stakes, $50,000, 3&up, 7f.
Hastings Racecourse: Strawberry Morn Handicap, $55,000, 3&up, f/m, 8.5f.
Hollywood Park: A Gleam Handicap – G2, $150,000, 3&up, f/m, 7f.
Hollywood Park: Swaps Breeders’ Cup S (gr. II), $150,000, 3yo, 9f.
Monmouth Park: Klassy Briefcase Stakes, $100,000, 3&up, f/m, 5.5f (turf).
Monmouth Park: Serena’s Song Stakes, $100,000, 3yo f, 8.32f.
Northlands Park: Edmonton Juvenile Stakes, $40,000, 2yo, c/g, 6f.
Northlands Park: Princess Margaret Stakes, $40,000, 2yo f, 6f.
Philadelphia Park: Greenwood Cup Handicap, $200,000, 3&up, 12f.
Pinnacle Race Course: Larkspur Handicap, $50,000, 3&up, f/m, Michigan-bred, 6f.
Prairie Meadows: Prairie Gold Juvenile Stakes, $75,000, 2yo, 5.5f.
Prairie Meadows: Prairie Gold Lassie Stakes, $75,000, 2yo f, 5.5f.
River Downs: Norm Barron Queen City Oaks (R), $75,000, 3yo f, Ohio-bred, 9f.

Sunday – July 18

Arapahoe Park: Colorado Derby, $30,000, 3yo, 8.5f.
Arapahoe Park: CTBA Lassie Stakes, $30,000, 2yo f, Colorado-bred, 6f.
Emerald Downs: Knights Choice Stakes, $30,000, 2yo f, 5.5f.
Emerald Downs: Strong Ruler Stakes, $30,000, 2yo, c/g, 5.5f.
Fort Erie: Fort Erie Slots Cup, $25,000, 3&up, f/m, 6f.
Hastings Racecourse: S.W. Randall Plate Handicap, $50,000, 3&up, 8.5f.
Hollywood Park: Sunset Handicap – G3, $100,000, 3&up, 12f (turf).
Monmouth Park: Monmouth Park: Dearly Precious Stakes, $100,000, 3yo f, 6f.
Monmouth Park: Malouf Auto Group Starter #3, $50,000, 3&up, 9f (turf).

Harness Stakes Action
This Weekend’s Stakes Action

Big goings on in the standard-bred world…The Big M has a slew for stakes races and Chester has the $500k Ben Franklin Finals. Watch and Wager on these fantastic Harness stakes races this week:

Friday – July 16