Harness Stakes Action
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Pacific Classic
Awesome Gem Looking to Score
Saturday’s 20th running of the $1,000,000 – Grade 1 Pacific Classic is the headline event of the summer at Del Mar and with a first place finish, the winner gets a starting berth in the $5,000,000 Grade I Breeders Cup Classic. With such a lucrative purse and the free ticket to Churchill Downs in November, a field of ten will battle it out over the 1 1/4 mile oval.
Leading the way into the Classic is the 3-1 morning line favorite – The Usual Q. T. who most may consider his best running is done on the grass. The 4-year-old gelding has eight wins from 15 starts and a bankroll of $993,320.
All of his victories have come on the turf, where he is 8-for-10 lifetime with one second. Last year, he won the Oak Tree Derby, Hollywood Derby, and Sir Beaufort Stakes in succession. But in his last on a synthetic track, The Usual Q. T. faded to last after pressing the pace in the Sunshine Millions Classic at Santa Anita. Victor Espinoza will be aboard The Usual Q. T., who has won both of his starts since finishing fourth in the Dubai Duty Free at Meydan.
The second choice is Richard’s Kid, who won the 2009 Pacific Classic by a neck over Einstein at odds of 24-1.
Richard’s Kid got up for jockey Mike Smith last year in the Pacific Classic after a furious stretch run. The 5-year-old Bob Baffert trainee has won once in six starts since the 2009 Pacific Classic, taking the San Antonio Handicap at Santa Anita in February.
Third in the Hollywood Gold Cup, Richard’s Kid is coming off a third-place effort in the 1 1/2-mile Cougar II Handicap at Del Mar on July 30th, the same race he used as prep for last year’s upset.
The most interesting entrant is seven-year-old Awesome Gem, who takes his record fourth shot at the $1 million Pacific Classic as one of the favorites in the field of ten. A lifetime earner of $2,274,682, Awesome Gem broke through with his first grade I win in the Hollywood Gold Cup on July 10th.
Awesome Again has won just seven times in 36 starts but has earned the admiration of everyone in racing for his competitive streak that has seen him finish second or third 17 other times against the best around. He’s won over just about every surface except Del Mar’s Polytrack, where he has three seconds in five starts. In his prior efforts in the Pacific Classic, he ran second in 2007 and seventh in each of the past two renewals.
He has finished in the money in his last four starts this year — at four different tracks. David Flores has the mount and they break from post 9, just inside of The Usual Q. T.
Others in the Pacific Classic are; Dakota Phone, a 5-year-old gelding, enters off a late-running half-length victory in the San Diego Handicap at nine furlongs. Dakota Phone closed from last in the field with a five-wide move into the lane to score a mild upset. Joel Rosario will be in the irons.
Drawing the rail was Battle of Hastings, an accomplished turf runner who finished a strong second in the San Diego, his first time racing on anything but grass. The 4-year-old gelded son of Royal Applause, is a multiple grade II winner.
East Coast shipper Hold Me Back, arrived from Belmont Park. Hold Me Back, recently won Woodbine’s Dominion Day Handicap on July 1st. That marked his fourth win in six starts on synthetic surfaces, including the Lane’s End Stakes last year at age 3. The 4-year-old son of Giant’s Causeway start in the Classic will mark the 11th track at which he has raced in his peripatetic, 13-race career. He will be ridden for the first time by Garrett Gomez, who has won the Pacific Classic four times, most recently in 2008 aboard Go Between. Gomez won in 2000 and 2001 aboard Skimming and won again in 2005 on Borrego. They will start from the seven post.
Temple City, a 5-year-old son of Dynaformer, won the Cougar II in gate-to-wire fashion by 3 1/4 lengths in his last start. Unusual Suspect ran second in the same race. Trainer Ben Cecil entered a pair in the Pacific Classic. They are British group I winner Crowded House, fourth in the Eddie Read in his U.S. debut last time out, and Isle of Giant’s, fourth in the San Diego in his stakes debut.
Del Mar Mile
$250k Purse Attracts Australian HOY
Also on the card this Saturday is the $250,000 Grade 2 Del Mar Mile, an automatic berth in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Mile, as part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” series…and this one has Australian Horse of the year and champion sprinter Scenic Blast facing six challengers in his third attempt at a first U.S. victory.
The six-year-old gelding, a two-time Group 1 winner in his native country who won last year’s King’s Stand Stakes at Ascot, made his first start for trainer John Shirreffs in June, finishing fourth in the Robert K. Kerlan Memorial Handicap at Hollywood Park following a six-month layoff. Scenic Blast is, strictly a sprinter in his 23-race career, will try the mile distance for the first time as the 121-pound top weight. Scenic Blast has eight wins, six seconds, and two thirds with earnings of $1,450,542.
He performed much better in his next start, finishing second to Smiling Tiger in the Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar. Racing Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, who Scenic Blast in his previous two starts, retains the mount.
Stepping up to take on the challenge in the one-mile turf race are French Group 3 winner Blue Chagall and Grade 1-placed stakes winner Enriched. Blue Chagall has won one of six starts this season, capturing the Wicker Stakes by 1¼ lengths in his most recent outing on July 28th at Del Mar.
The five-year-old Testa Rossa gelding, who won the 2007 Prix des Chenes at Longchamp, won two of seven starts last year, including the Lure Stakes during the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park.
Enriched, who finished third in the Eddie Read Stakes on July 24th, has won two of eight starts this season with a pair of runner-up finishes and three third-place finishes for trainer Doug O’Neill. The five-year-old gelding captured a 1 1/8-mile optional claiming race at Santa Anita Park and a one-mile allowance race at Hollywood Park, both on the turf.
Moudez, winner of the Joseph T. Grace Handicap on the Santa Rosa turf in his first start in more than three years, takes a big leap in the $250,000 Del Mar Mile. Moudez, an Irish-bred 6-year-old had not been seen since he won Keeneland’s Forerunner Stakes on the grass in April 2007. He returned in the 1 1/16-mile Joseph T. Grace at the Sonoma County Fair on August 8th. Ridden by Michael Martinez, Moudez rallied from last among six runners in the stretch to win going away by 1 1/4 lengths.
Moudez is one of four entrants in the Del Mar Mile coming into the race off a win. Patrick Valenzuela gains the ride on Moudez, who has won four of six starts in his career. They’ll break from post 3
Four-year-old Bruce’s Dream, trained by Mike Puype for Corwin Racing, won the California Dreamin’ Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on turf for state breds July 25. Golden Mexico, trained by John Sadler, won an optional claiming race at Del Mar, ending an eight-race losing streak for the 4-year-old Irish-bred gelding.
Meteore, trained by Richard Mandella, has struggled to regain the form he showed last year at 3. The son of Pulpit has not been out since a sixth-place finish in the American Handicap at Hollywood Park July 4th.
Pat O’Brien Stakes
Smiling Tiger Looks Best
This Saturday, the $300,000 Grade 1 Pat O’Brien Stakes drew a field of 10 and has a pair of hopefuls vying for the winners circle – Smiling Tiger and Crown of Thorns. Smiling Tiger, won the Grade I Bing Crosby Stakes four weeks ago and was never caught, will try to do it again and Crown of Thorns makes his first start since he was nosed out by Dancing in Silks in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint at odds of 15-1.
The 3-year-old Smiling Tiger scored his first Grade I victory in the Bing Crosby, when the colt faced older horses for the first time. The son of Hold That Tiger will have to hold his speed for one furlong farther over the tiring Polytrack in the Pat O’Brien, but if he can do it he will sew up a starting berth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs.
Going for his third consecutive graded stakes win, Smiling Tiger could get the same sort of trip this time that he did in the Crosby. There does not appear to be an abundance of early speed. Tropic Storm, starting to the inside of Smiling Tiger, would seem to be the most likely candidate to challenge for the lead. Smiling Tiger will be ridden once again by Victor Espinoza.
Crown of Thorns, who was also second in the Ancient Title Stakes last fall at Oak Tree, has been working well at Del Mar in preparation for his return. The bay was not seen in action for 19 months, but picked up where he left off with three solid efforts. After running third to eventual Malibu Stakes winner M One Rifle in a Del Mar allowance, Crown of Thorns finished second in both the Ancient Title Stakes and the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, the latter by a miniscule nose.
If history is any indicator, fitness might not be an issue as he returns from a layoff of nearly 10 months. He is reunited with Rafael Bejarano, who rode the 5-year-old for the first time in the Breeders’ Cup.
E Z’s Gentleman earned a grade I victory in the Triple Bend Handicap at the difficult seven-furlong distance at Hollywood. But was no match for Smiling Tiger when third in the Crosby, finishing nearly five lengths behind the winner while drifting in late. The 5-year-old gets off the rail this time and will leave from post 2 with Martin Garcia aboard.
Four year-old El Brujo, who was a decent fourth in spite of trouble in the Bing Crosby, reeled off a pair of grade III sprint victories last year, including Keeneland’s Perryville at seven furlongs on Polytrack.
Sangaree cuts back in distance after running out of steam in the 1 1/16-mile San Diego Handicap and finishing seventh. Sangaree was second to E Z’s Gentleman in the Triple Bend before that.
Tropic Storm returned from an absence of nearly two years in a five-furlong turf sprint for optional claimers at Del Mar. The 6-year-old nearly wired the field, losing by a nose, but he was moved up to first via disqualification by the stewards. Craig Dollase trains Tropic Storm, who has finished in the money in 12 of 14 races, winning five. He has earned $331,700.
New Bay was claimed for $40,000 by A.C. Avila out of his last race. Kanan Dume, Leaving New York, and Chilean-bred Hard Bill are stepping up into stakes company.
Louisiana Derby Hopefuls
Winner Gets Pass to Super Derby
While this Saturday’s Prelude Day is no Super Derby, the winner of the $100,000 Prelude gets their ticket stamped to the Super Derby next month. A group of nine 3-year-old hopefuls are entered and Coyote Legend heads up the field.
Coyote Legend picked up his seventh career win in the Assault Stakes at Lone Star Park in his last start and 2 for 2 at the Prelude’s 1 1/16-mile distance. Bobby Walker will break Coyote Legend, the likely favorite, from post 2.
Al Stall Jr., who saddled Blame, last year’s Super Derby runner-up and this year’s national leader in the male handicap division, will be represented in the Prelude by Apart. A lightly raced son of Flatter, Apart will attempt to make amends for two defeats as the favorite in allowance company at Churchill Downs earlier this summer. Stall has given the call to Jesse Campbell.
Louisiana Downs newcomer Paul McGee will send out Down With Dixie in the Prelude. Down With Dixie could vie for favoritism off a fourth-place finish in the Grade 3 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows in his last start. Former Louisiana Downs regular Jamie Theriot has the call.
National training leader Steve Asmussen has Herecomesbert in the Prelude. Another son of Purge, Herecomesbert most recently picked up his second career win in optional claiming company at Lone Star. Aaron Gryder will be in to handle the riding chores.
The field also includes Forestry Steel, a three-time winner, as well as Ricks F Sixteen, Ricky Tick, and Ryder River, all of whom are looking for their second career victory.
Around The Track
News You Can Use
Delta Downs
Boyd Gaming Corp. has elevated the Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes (G3) back to $1-million and tweaked the timing of the track’s premier card.
Renamed after seven years as the Boyd Gaming’s Delta Jackpot, the 1 1/16-mile race will highlight a $2.4-million afternoon program on November 20, two weeks earlier than usual and a change from past editions that were conducted at night.
Delta inaugurated the Jackpot in 2002 and the purse was $1-million from 2003 through ’06. The last three editions have been worth $750,000, still one of the richest two-year-old races in North America, but Delta has struggled to attract and produce Kentucky Derby (G1) contenders, even after the Jackpot received graded stakes status in 2006.
The Jackpot increase comes a few weeks after Churchill Downs Inc. boosted the purse for the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds from $750,000 to $1-million. Purses at both Louisiana racetracks are supplemented with revenue from added gaming.
The 2010 North American calendar now includes 29 races with seven-figure purses.
Delta also has moved the $500,000 Delta Princess Stakes (G3) back to the Jackpot undercard, which will include $250,000 stakes races for Louisiana-bred males and females, $125,000 mile stakes for older males and females, and seven-furlong stakes for older males and females worth $60,000 each.
Oaklawn Park
Oaklawn Park will offer $4.6-million in stakes purses in a 56-day meet in 2011, a reduction from $4.8-million in 2010.
The Oaklawn Handicap (G2) has been trimmed from $500,000 to $350,000. The $1-million Arkansas Derby (G1) for three-year-olds highlights the scheduled on April 16. Eventual Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Super Saver finished second in this year’s renewal of the major Triple Crown prep.
“We don’t like reducing the purses of any of our stakes races, but this parallels what other tracks in the country have done in recent years,” said David Longinotti, Oaklawn’s assistant general manager of racing. “We thought that the money could be better used elsewhere in the stakes program and in overnight purses.”
Oaklawn has scheduled 34 stakes races, two more than the 2010 meet carried, with the additions of $50,000 male and female divisions of the Arkansas Breeders’ Stakes for Arkansas-bred horses at 1 1/16 miles.
The overnight structure calls for a minimum purse of $15,200 and maiden special weight races at $36,000, both slightly down from all-time highs at the end of the 2010 meet.
Santa Anita
Ted Malloy, former track superintendent at Gulfstream Park and now lead track consultant for MI Developments Inc., will oversee the installation of the new dirt track at Santa Anita Park.
Richard Tedesco, the track superintendent at both Santa Anita and Del Mar, said he did not know what his role would be. “We’ll just have to see how things play out,” said Tedesco, who has more than 46 years of racetrack maintenance experience.
MI Developments Chairman Frank Stronach announced on August 18 that the synthetic surface at Santa Anita would be replaced with dirt.
MI Developments Chief Executive Officer Dennis Mills said the dirt would come from one of two or three U.S. locations. He declined to say where those locations were.
Oak Tree
The California Horse Racing Board voted on Thursday to deny the Oak Tree Racing Association’s application to run its fall meeting at Santa Anita Park, meaning in all likelihood the meet will be held at Hollywood Park rather than the Arcadia, California, racetrack, where it has been held every year since 1969.
The work is to be completed by the first or second week of December, so trainers could resume regular activity at Santa Anita well before the start of the winter-spring meeting on December 26. With the Oak Tree meeting apparently moving to Hollywood Park, installation could start earlier.
Thoroughbred Racing Action
Weekend Stakes Action
Go west young man and check out the Grade I – $1,000,000 Pacific Classic at Delmar this Saturday. Watch these and more all on BetAmerica.com.
Friday – August 27
• Assiniboia Downs: Distaff Stakes, $50,000, 3&up, f/m, Manitoba-bred, 8f.
• Assiniboia Downs: Sales Stakes, $40,000, 2yo, Manitoba-bred, 6f.
• Del Mar: CTT & Thoroughbred Owners of California H, $75,000, 3&up, f/m, 11f (turf).
• Thistledown: Honey Jay Stakes, $50,000, 3&up, Ohio-bred, 6f.
Saturday – August 28
• Assiniboia Downs: Jack Hardy Stakes, $30,000, 3yo f, 8.5f.
• Calder Race Course: Affirmed Stakes, $100,000, 2yo, 7f.
• Calder Race Course: Catcharisingstar Stakes, $50,000, 2yo f, 5f (turf).
• Calder Race Course: Fasig-Tipton Turf Dash, $50,000, 2yo, 5f (turf).
• Calder Race Course: Lindsay Frolic Stakes, $50,000, 2yo f, 8f.
• Calder Race Course: Seacliff Stakes, $50,000, 2yo, 8f.
• Calder Race Course: Susan’s Girl Stakes, $100,000, 2yo f, 7f.
• Charles Town: Sylvia Bishop Memorial Stakes, $50,000, 3yo f, West Virginia-bred, 7f.
• Del Mar: Pacific Classic – G1, $1,000,000, 3&up, 10f.
• Del Mar: Pat O’Brien Breeders’ Cup Stakes – G1, $300,000, 3&up, 7f.
• Del Mar: Del Mar Breeders’ Cup Mile – G2, $175,000, 3&up, 8f (turf).
• Hoosier Park: Wigwam Stakes, $100,000, 3&up, f/m, 8.5f.
• Hoosier Park: Merrillville Stakes, $70,000, 3&up, f/m, Indiana-bred, 6f.
• Louisiana Downs: Super Derby Prelude, $100,000, 3yo, 8.5f.
• Louisiana Downs: Donnie Wilhite Memorial, $50,000, 2yo f, 8f (turf).
• Louisiana Downs: Honeymoon Stakes, $50,000, 3&up, f/m, Louisiana-bred, 8f (turf).
• Louisiana Downs: John Franks Memorial, $50,000, 3&up, Louisiana-bred, 8f (turf).
• Louisiana Downs: Shiskabob, $50,000, 3&up, 8f (turf).
• Louisiana Downs: Sunny’s Halo, $50,000, 2yo, 8f (turf).
• Monmouth Park: Miss Woodford Stakes, $100,000, 3yo f, 6f.
• Monmouth Park: Restoration Stakes, $100,000, 3yo, 9f (turf).
• Northlands Park: Bird of Pay Stakes, $50,000, 2yo f, 6.5f.
• Northlands Park: Birdcatcher Stakes, $50,000, 2yo, c/g, 6.5f.
• Remington Park: Red Earth Stakes, $50,000, 3&up, Oklahoma-bred, 7.5f (turf).
• Ruidoso Downs: Fern Sawyer Handicap, $40,000, 3&up, f/m, 7.5f.
• Thistledown: Rose DeBartolo Memorial Stakes, $50,000, 3&up, f/m, Ohio-bred, 9f.
Sunday – August 29
• Canterbury Park: Northern Lights Debutante Stakes, $55,000, 2yo f, 6f.
• Canterbury Park: Northern Lights Futurity, $55,000, 2yo, c/g, 6f.
• Canterbury Park: MN Classic Championship, $50,000, 3&up, 8.5f.
• Canterbury Park: MN Distaff Classic Championship, $50,000, 3&up, f/m, 8.5f.
• Canterbury Park: MN Distaff Sprint Championship, $50,000, 3&up, f/m, 6f.
• Canterbury Park: MN Sprint Championship, $50,000, 3yo, 6f.
• Canterbury Park: MN Turf Championship, $35,000, 3&up, 8f (turf).
• Del Mar: Del Mar Handicap – G2, $200,000, 3&up, 11f (turf).
• Emerald Downs: Barbara Shinpoch Stakes, $20,000, 2yo f, 8f.
• Emerald Downs: W.T.B.O.A. Lads Stakes, $20,000, 2yo, c/g, 8f.
• Hoosier Park: Brickyard Stakes, $70,000, 3&up, Indiana-bred, 6f.
• Monmouth Park: Molly Pitcher Breeders’ Cup Stakes – G2, $250,000, 3&up, f/m, 8.5f.
• Monmouth Park: Junior Champion Stakes, $100,000, 2yo f, 8f (turf).
Harness Stakes Action
This Weekend’s Stakes Action
Watch and Wager on these fantastic Harness stakes races this week:
Friday – August 27
• Flamboro: Bud Light, $85,000, 3yo, C&G Trot
• Freehold: NJSS, $100,000, 3yo, C&G Trot
• Freehold: NJSS GA, $10,000, 3yo, C&G Trot
• Freehold: NJSS GA, $10,000, 3yo, Filly Trot
• Meadows: PASS, $220,000, 2yo, C&G Trot
• Meadows: PA Stallion Series, $20,000, 2yo, Filly Trot
• Northfield Park: Scarlet & Grey, $10,000, 4yo and up, Mare Pace
• Northfield Park: Scarlet & Grey, $10,000, 4yo and up, Mare Trot
• Rideau Carlton: OSS Gold Finals, $130,000, 2yo, C&G Trot
• Tioga Downs: NYSS LC, $12,500, 2yo, Filly Trot
• Tioga Downs: NYSS LC, $12,500, 2yo, Filly Pace
Saturday – August 28
• Balmoral: American National, $200,000, 3yo, C&G Trot
• Balmoral: American National, $180,000, 3yo, Filly Trot
• Freehold: NJSS, $100,000, 3yo, Filly Pace
• Freehold: Cane Pace, $99,000, 3yo, Open Pace
• Freehold: Lou Babic, $10,000, 2yo, Open Pace
• Freehold: Lou Babic, $10,000, 2yo, Filly Pace
• Indiana Downs: Indiana SS, $40,000, 3yo, C&G Pace
• Karwartha Downs: OSS Grassroots, $24,000, 2yo, Filly Pace
• Meadows: PASS, $220,000, 2yo, Filly Trot
• Northfield Park: Scarlet & Grey, $10,000, 4yo and up, H&G Pace
• Northfield Park: Scarlet & Grey, $10,000, 4yo and up, H&G Trot
• Ocean Downs: MD SS, $25,000, 3yo, C&G Pace
• Ocean Downs: MD SS, $25,000, 3yo, C&G Trot
• Ocean Downs: MD SS, $25,000, 3yo, Filly Pace
• Ocean Downs: MD SS, $25,000, 3yo, Filly Trot
• Ocean Downs: MD SS, $25,000, 2yo, C&G Pace
• Ocean Downs: MD SS, $25,000, 2yo, C&G Trot
• Ocean Downs: MD SS, $25,000, 2yo, Filly Pace
• Ocean Downs: MD SS, $25,000, 2yo, Filly Trot
• Saratoga Raceway: NYSS LC, $12,500, 2yo, C&G Trot
• Tioga Downs: NYSS, $200,000, 3yo, C&G Pace
Sunday – August 29
• Rideau Carlton: Frank Ryan, $170,000, 3yo and up, Open Trot
• Scarborough: Maine SS, $41,000, 3yo, C&G Pace
• Tioga Downs: Zweig Memorial, $300,000, 3yo, C&G Trot
• Tioga Downs: Zweig Memorial, $100,000, 3yo, Filly Trot
• Tioga Downs: NYSS LC, $12,500, 3yo, C&G Trot
Posted by Jared Alexander
