Smelling Sweet in the Gardenia
Seeking the Title is Seeking the Title
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Sydney’s Candy Looks Sweetest
70th edition of the La Jolla Handicap
This Saturday, Del Mar will host the 70th edition of the Grade II, $150,000 La Jolla Handicap at 1 1/16 miles to be run on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course. Leading the way weight among a solid group of eight 3-year-olds into the La Jolla is Santa Anita Derby winner Sidney’s Candy, who will be making his turf debut.
Sidney’s Candy lost his last start, the Swaps Stakes on Hollywood Park’s Cushion Track on July 17th, when he was caught just before the wire as the 1-5 favorite in a four-horse field. Sidney’s Candy opened up a clear lead in the stretch but could not hold off Skipshot in the Swaps. He lost by a head in his only start since finishing 17th after a rough trip in the Kentucky Derby on a sloppy track at Churchill Downs.
John Sadler tabbed Joel Rosario to ride Sidney’s Candy, replacing Joe Talamo, who was sidelined for the duration of the Del Mar meet when he fractured a wrist. Talamo rode Sidney’s Candy in all eight of the chestnut colt’s prior races.
Besides the Santa Anita Derby, Sidney’s Candy won the San Vicente and San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita this year and has banked $713,416.
He will spot his La Jolla foes from two to six pounds apiece, carrying high-weight of 121 pounds..
Other leading contenders in the La Jolla include Leroy’s Dynameaux, who won the Will Rogers Stakes at 13-1 odds at Hollywood Park in his last start and Affirmed Handicap winner Golden Itiz, who like Sidney’s Candy, is making his grass bow in the La Jolla.
Ellenay Racing’s Leroy’s Dynameaux, a son of Leroidesanimaux trained by Mark Glatt, rallied five paths wide from well off the pace to score a neck victory in the 1 1/16-mile Will Rogers, which was the dark bay gelding’s second start on turf. Rafael Bejarano takes over the mount from Rosario.
Among those Leroy’s Dynameaux beat in the Will Rogers was third-place finisher Macias, who returned to run second in the opening-day Oceanside Stakes. He finished 2 1/4 lengths behind the impressive Twirling Candy, another Craig homebred for Sadler that is skipping the La Jolla.
The only other starter in the field to take part in the one-mile Oceanside is John and Cheryl Toffan’s three-time turf winner Face and an Ace, who ran fifth for trainer Paco Gonzalez.
Golden Itiz brings a three-race winning streak into the La Jolla following his half-length score over seven rivals as the odds-on choice in the Affirmed at Hollywood Park. The son of Tiznow won an optional claiming race by more than 11 lengths on the Cushion Track for trainer Ron Ellis prior to his stakes debut in the Affirmed. Patrick Valenzuela rides.
An intriguing possibility is Summer Movie, who returns to the turf after a pair of graded races on the main track at Hollywood. Trained by Art Sherman for theater chain owner George Krikorian, Summer Movie won two of four starts on turf, breaking his maiden on the grass at Oak Tree last fall and taking an optional claimer at Hollywood Park back in April. Both turf wins came at the one-mile distance.
Following a dismal effort in the Arlington Classic, Summer Movie was switched to Cushion Track. He finished an even fourth in the Affirmed and made a strong late bid to finish third in the Swaps, beaten by just a half-length. Victor Espinoza picks up the mount on Summer Movie with Martin Garcia sticking with Macias.
Irish-bred Kid Edward is the only horse in the field with a victory on the Del Mar turf, rallying for a 1 1/4-length win over an optional claiming field at the La Jolla distance July 23. That was his first start since breaking his maiden at Santa Anita in a one-mile turfer. James Cassidy trains the Singspiel colt for the Gould Family Trust.
Alphie’s Bet, who broke his maiden on the Santa Anita grass with a big closing effort in January, offered no late bid in his last start in the Swaps. He finished a close third in the Affirmed prior to that.
Gonzalez-conditioned Face and an Ace; Golden Itiz, winner of three straight, including Hollywood Park’s Grade III Affirmed Stakes for trainer Ron Ellis; Kid Edward, winner of two straight turf races for trainer Jim Cassidy; Leroy’s Dynameaux, Will Rogers Stakes winner for trainer Mark Glatt, and Macias, who is 4 for 11 for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert.
John Mabee Stakes
Wasted Tears Puts Six Race Win Streak on the Line
On Sunday, the $250,000 John Mabee Stakes at Del Mar brings Wasted Tears to California for the first time, but more important, her six-race winning streak into the 1 1/8 miles turf event.
Wasted Tears is perfect in all of 2009 and 2010, including wins this year in the Grade 3 Honey Fox Stakes at Gulfstream Park, the Grade 2 Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland, and the Grade 3 Ouija Board Handicap at Lone Star Park.
On the racetrack, Wasted Tears thrives by racing in front on turf, which has led to graded stakes wins this year in Florida, Kentucky, and Texas. The five year-old mare has 10 wins in 15 starts and earnings of $558,598. Bred by Evans in Kentucky, she began her career at 2, winning on turf at Retama Park, near San Antonio. She has made all but two starts on turf.
Wasted Tears, by Najran, will be easy to find on the front in the Mabee under New York-based jockey Rajiv Maragh, who rode her in the Jenny Wiley. Even though she is a front-runner, Wasted Tears is not speed-crazy and will cooperate with a rider, Evans said. She keeps races interesting to the finish, too. Her four wins this year have been by a combined 2 1/4 lengths.
The Mabee is a Win and You’re In race for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Churchill Downs in November, but that race is not on Evans’s mind. Its run over 1 3/8 miles on turf, and the course could easily be less than firm in a Kentucky autumn.
Smelling Sweet in the Gardenia
Midway Holiday Looking to Get it Done
This Saturday, trainer Greg Foley is hoping for a bit of déjà vu as he saddles Midway Holiday as a major contender in the $100,000 Grade 3 Gardenia Stakes, a race he won at the Ellis Park meet three years ago when he sent out Pleasant Hill to a victory.
Foley acknowledges that Midway Holiday will be switching things up a bit in the Gardenia, a one-mile race on dirt, but believes the 3-year-old filly is talented enough to prevail. She most recently was a decent fourth behind the surging Check the Label in the Grade 3 Virginia Oaks on the Colonial Downs turf.
Midway Holiday is one of at least six fillies and mares, with maybe a few more, that Ellis racing officials were expecting when entries were drawn Thursday, with the other likely favorites being Ravi’s Song, Lady’s Laughter, and Tap Tap Tapping. An overnight handicap and four allowances also are in the condition book for what is traditionally the richest day of the Ellis meet.
The $100,000 Gardenia is the lone graded race every year at Ellis Park.
Seeking the Title is Seeking the Title
Filly Looking to Score Big in Monmouth Oaks
Seeking the Title will gun for her second Oaks victory of the year on Saturday in the $200,000 Grade III Monmouth Oaks this Saturday. The 1 1/16-mile race drew six three-year-old fillies, but only Seeking the Title enters with a previous Oaks win to her credit. The Seeking the Gold filly captured the Iowa Oaks by a half-length over Harissa on at Prairie Meadows Racetrack.
Trained by Dallas Stewart, Seeking the Title enters off a fifth-place finish in the Betfair TVG Coaching Club American Oaks on July 24th at Saratoga Race Course.
Another homebred No Such Word, will try to continue a very consistent three-year-old season on Saturday. After winning just one of five starts as a juvenile, No Such Word has emerged as a force as a three-year-old. She finished fourth in her 2010 debut but followed with a 2½-length victory on February 14th in an optional claiming race and a 2½-length score in the Honeybee Stakes on March 13th, both at Oaklawn Park.
This season, she won the Go For Wand Stakes, finished second in the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes and third in the Fantasy Stakes. She enters off a fourth-place finish, beaten 2 ¾ lengths by Blind Luck, in the Delaware Oaks.
The Jersey Shore hometown fans may be pulling for owner-breeder Kin Hui’s and trainer Patrick Biancone’s Patriotic Viva. The filly enters off a 3¾-length score in the Serena’s Song Stakes at Monmouth and will have fan-favorite jockey Joe Bravo aboard.
Eric Fein’s C C’s Pal, second in the Serena’s Song, enters in search of her first stakes win. She finished second in the Florida Oaks and third in the Comely Stakes earlier this season. Grade 2-placed winner Worship the Moon won a one-mile allowance race at Philadelphia Park in her most recent start while Briland Farm’s Absinthe Minded will try to breakthrough in a stakes race for the first time.
Thoroughbred Racing Action
Weekend Stakes Action
The Dog Days of Summer are upon us and race fans have been hitting the big tracks, but if you are looking for value for your buck, check out The Gardenia at Ellis Park, Monmouth’s Breeders Cup Oaks and for fun check out the Cal Fair racing with Santa Rosa racetrack for ole time racing! Watch these and more all on BetAmerica.com.
Friday – August 13
• Assiniboia Downs: Gold Strike Mile, $20,000, 3yo f, Manitoba-bred, 8f.
• Del Mar: Daisycutter Handicap, $75,000, 3&up, f/m, 5f (turf).
Saturday – August 7
• Albuquerque: Chamisa Handicap, $30,000, 3&up, f/m, 6.5f.
• Arapahoe Park: Spicy Stakes, $30,000, 3&up, f/m, Colorado-bred, 8.5f.
• Assiniboia Downs: North Dakota Futurity, $10,000, 2yo, 6f.
• Charles Town: Sadie Hawkins Stakes, $50,000, 3&up, f/m, West Virginia-bred, 7f.
• Del Mar: La Jolla Handicap – G2, $150,000, 3yo, 8.5f (turf).
• Ellis Park: Gardenia – G3, $100,000, 3&up, f/m, 8f.
• Emerald Downs: Washington Oaks, $75,000, 3yo f, 9f.
• Evangeline Downs: Evangeline Mile, $100,000, 3&up, 8f.
• Laurel Park: Jameela Stakes, $50,000, 3&up, f/m, Maryland-bred, 6f (turf).
• Monmouth Park: Monmouth Breeders’ Cup Oaks – G3, $150,000, 3yo f, 8.5f.
• Monmouth Park: Continental Mile Stakes, $100,000, 2yo, 8f (turf).
• Northlands Park: Sales Stakes, $50,000, 2yo f, 6.5f.
• Northlands Park: Sales Stakes, $50,000, 2yo, c/g, 6.5f.
• Pinnacle Race Course: Michigan Breeders Cup, $20,000, 3&up, Michigan-bred, 8f.
• Santa Rosa: Cavonnier Juvenile Stakes, $50,000, 2yo, 6f.
• Suffolk Downs: First Episode Stakes, $50,000, 3&up, f/m, Massachusetts-bred, 8.32f.
• Yavapai Downs: Yavapai Downs Derby, $20,000, 3yo, 8.5f.
Sunday – August 8
• Albuquerque: Charles Taylor Derby, $30,000, 3yo, 8f.
• Arapahoe Park: Arapahoe Park Classic, $30,000, 3&up, 9f.
• Del Mar: John C. Mabee Stakes – G2, $250,000, 3&up, f/m, 9f (turf).
• Emerald Downs: Emerald Downs Derby, $75,000, 3yo, 9f.
• Monmouth Park: Incredible Revenge Stakes, $100,000, 3&up, f/m, 5.5f (turf).
Harness Stakes Action
This Weekend’s Stakes Action
Summertime is Harness Time… Ton’s of great racing this weekend including the $650,000 Confederation Cup at Flamboro Downs. Watch and Wager on these fantastic Harness stakes races this week:
Friday – August 13
• Harrah’s Chester: PA Stallion Series, $20,000, 2yo, C&G Pace
• Flamboro: OSS Grassroots, $24,000, 2yo, Filly Trot
• Freehold: NJSS, $54,000, 3yo, C&G trot
• Freehold: Helen Smith, $10,000, 3yo,Filly Trot
• Indiana Downs: Indiana SS, $40,000, 2yo, C&G Trot
• Indiana Downs: Indiana SS, $40,000, 2yo, Filly Trot
• Indiana Downs: Indiana SS, $40,000, 3yo, Filly Trot
• Meadowlands: WR Haughton, $50,000, Free For All Pace
• Meadowlands: Sweetheart, $20,000, 2yo, Filly Pace
• Meadowlands: Woodrow Wilson, $20,000, 2yo, Open Pace
• Saratoga Raceway: NYSS, $200,000, 2yo, Filly Pace
• Vernon Downs: NY State Fair, $100,000, 2yo, Filly Pace
• Vernon Downs: NY State Fair, $100,000, 2yo, Filly Trot
Saturday – August 14
• Freehold: NJSS, $66,000, 3yo, C&G Pace
• Freehold: NJSS, $66,000, 3yo, Filly Pace
• Indiana Downs: Indiana SS, $40,000, 3yo, C&G Pace
• Ocean Downs: MSRF, $10,000, 3yo, C&G Pace
• Ocean Downs: MSRF, $10,000, 3yo, C&G Trot
• Ocean Downs: MSRF, $10,000, 3yo, Filly Pace
• Ocean Downs: MSRF, $10,000, 3yo, Filly Trot
• Ocean Downs: MSRF, $10,000, 2yo, C&G Pace
• Ocean Downs: MSRF, $10,000, 2yo, C&G Trot
• Ocean Downs: MSRF, $10,000, 2yo, Filly Pace
• Ocean Downs: MSRF, $10,000, 2yo, Filly Trot
• Saratoga Harness: Joe Gerrity, $25,000, 3yo and up, Open Pace
• Scarborough: Joseph Ricci Memorial, $50,000, Open Trot
• Scioto Downs: Ohio SS, $15,000, 2yo, C&G Pace
• Scioto Downs: Ohio SS, $15,000, 2yo, C&G Trot
• Tioga Downs: NY State Fair, $100,000, 3yo, C&G Pace
• Tioga Downs: NY State Fair, $100,000, 3yo, C&G Trot
Sunday – August 15
• Harrah’s Chester: PASS, $200,000, 3yo, C&G Pace
• Flamboro: Confederation Cup, $650,000, 3yo,Open Pace
• Flamboro: OSS Gold Finals, $130,000, 3yo, C&G Trot
• Flamboro: OSS Gold Finals, $130,000, 2yo, C&G Pace
• Raceway Park: Ohio SS, $15,000, 2yo, Filly Pace
• Raceway Park: Ohio SS, $15,000, 2yo, Filly Trot
• Rideau Carlton: OSS Gold Finals, $130,000, 2yo, Filly Pace
• Tioga Downs: NY State Fair, $100,000, 3yo, Filly Pace
• Tioga Downs: NY State Fair, $100,000, 3yo, Filly Trot
Dear Sirs:I appreciate your letter and look forward to winning a little money,warm regards.