Tag: Awesome Again

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Louisiana Derby: Doubling the Digits for The Derby

Girvin, winner of the 2017 Louisiana Derby, competes in the Ohio Derby that same year.
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By My Standards, winner of the 2019 Louisiana Derby.
By My Standards, winner of the 2019 Louisiana Derby.

The Road to The Kentucky Derby doubles up on the points in the preps this weekend. With the top of the leaderboard at a high of 60 points in seven months of racing on The Road, the best of the Louisiana Derby will take the lead. This race, and many that follow, offer an escalated point scale. The first four finishers of the Louisiana Derby will earn 100-40-20-10 points, respectively! This race has historically good odds of placing runners in The KY Derby. How many of the eight in the gate of this Louisiana Derby will Run For The Roses?

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Brief on the Belmont

War of Will wowed at the morning workouts ahead of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
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War of Will peeks out from his stable at Keeneland before shipping to New York for the Belmont Stakes.
War of Will peeks out from his stable at Keeneland before shipping to New York for the Belmont Stakes.

Bring on the Belmont Stakes! It has been a Triple Crown series full of surprises and I expect there will be plenty of twists for the ten who compete in “The Test of the Champion.” Who will that champion be? We shall soon see. For the time being, here’s the brief on the Belmont.

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Pertaining To The Pegasus

Gunnevera waits to work out at Churchill Downs in preparation on the Breeders' Cup.
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Seeking the Soul has come a long way since winning the final race of Keeneland’s Fall Meet in 2016.

Get pumped up for the Pegasus! This Saturday, is the 3rd annual Pegasus World Cup Invitational. It is a race card that you won’t want to miss. 9 stakes races on a card of 12 offer huge purses of over $16 million dollars. These are the richest races in North America. Who will win the prized Pegasus?

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Basics of the Belmont

Free Drop Billy and Blended Citizen raced in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland!

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Free Drop Billy and Blended Citizen raced in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland!
Free Drop Billy and Blended Citizen raced in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland!

It seems like everyone has their own opinion on this year’s Belmont Stakes and I could not be happier to read and learn about all of the varied perspectives on this race.  There is a wealth of information available if you have the time or the interest.  For those craving a refresher or the simple facts ahead of this weekend’s race, here are the basics of the Belmont Stakes.

 

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Discussing the Derby

Good Magic and Flameaway head for the finsh line in the Blue Grass Stakes!.

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Free Drop Billy romps early in the Blue Grass Stakes.
Free Drop Billy romps early in the Blue Grass Stakes.

What a long strange trip it’s been, this Road to the Kentucky Derby.  Thinking back to last September, how many times have we changed our minds, or might there be a few who had an inkling from foaling season?  I’ve had an fascinating but indecisive path myself however, I have finally come to some determinations.  This is what I know about the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby and I would love to share it with you.

 

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Chrome Again

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FacebooktwitterCalifornia Chrome for the Awesome Again Stakes

California Chrome is ready again to prove that he is the most awesome male in Thoroughbred  racing today!  Tomorrow, 10/1/16, Chrome will race in the Xpressbet Awesome Again Stakes.  Chrome is undefeated in all 5 of his 2016 races and based on his recent workouts he is looking like every bit of the champ that will keep the wins coming.  He is 5 at 5!

California Chrome looks amazing

California Chrome is the flashy 5 year old son of Lucky Pulpit and Love The Chase.  Chrome is a California bred Thoroughbred with some Kentucky connections.  In 23 starts he has won 14 times.  He won 2 of the 3 legs of the Triple Crown in 2014.  He finished 3rd in the Breeders’ Cup Classic as a 3 year old, as well.  Chrome earned 2 Eclipse Awards that same year, Horse of the Year and Champion 3 Year Old Colt.  With 2 nice finishes at 2nd in 2015, Chrome traveled a bit and then got some rest and relaxation at Taylor Made Farm in Kentucky.  That is where I visited him on 2 occasions.  He will retire there soon to make beautiful Chrome babies.  He is affectionately called Junior and he is both an amazing race horse and just a joy of an animal at the same time.  He loves his cookies and hamming it up for the camera and his fans, even babies.  Chrome will race in the Awesome Again Stakes, the Breeders’ Cup Classic and the Pegasus World Cup before he returns to his old Kentucky home, to stay.

Caifornia Chrome is happy

One race at a time, California Chrome is focused on another win in the Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.  Chrome calls nearby Los Alamitos Race Course his current home.  His last race was 8/20/16 when he won the Pacific Classic Stakes at Del Mar.  He has been resting and prepping nicely ever since then.  He got in a fast 7 furlongs at Los Alamitos on 9/24/16.  This morning he galloped and schooled at Santa Anita.  All signs show, Chrome is at his best at age 5.  It is worth noting that the Stronach group put up a $1 million dollar bonus for the connections of the horse that could sweep the Pacific Classic, the Awesome Again and the BC Classic.  1 down, 2 to go!

Happy California Chrome

The Awesome Again Stakes was inaugurated as the Goodwood Breeders’ Cup Handicap in 1982.  The Goodwood name came from England’s Goodwood Racecourse.  In 2008 the race became the Goodwood Stakes.  Named once again in 2012, it became the Awesome Again Stakes for Awesome Again, the horse that won the BC Classic in 2008.  The race is 9 furlongs (1 and 1/8 mile) on the dirt for Thoroughbreds age 3 and up with a purse of $300,000. Some of my personal winners include Ferdinand and Silver Charm.  Last year, Smooth Roller won.  Posting at 3:37 P.M PDT (6:37 EST) , the Grade 1, Awesome Again Stakes is the 7th race on a card of 11.  The first post is at 12:30 P.M. PDT.  It is a Breeders’ Cup “Win And You’re In” berth race for the 2016 BC Classic.  NBC will begin its television coverage at 5:30 P.M. EST.  The preceding race, the G1 FrontRunner Stakes, brings a BC berth into the BC Juvenile Division race.  Actually, every race from the 6th to the 10th is a BC berth.  Those should be fun to watch and/or bet as well.

California Chrome smiles

The field for the Awesome Again Stakes is as follows by post/horse/jockey/trainer/owner:

  1. California Chrome/Victor Espinoza/Art Sherman/California Chrome LLC.
  2. Dortmund/Rafael Bejarano/Bob Baffert/Kaleem Shah
  3. Hoppertunity/Flavien Prat/Bob Baffert/Karl Watson, Michael Pegram and Paul Weitman
  4. Win the Space/Gary Stevens/George Papaprodromou/Kretz Racing LLC
  5. Soi Phet/Kent Desormeaux/Leonard Powell/Benowitz Family Trust, Mathilde Powell and Paul A. Viskovich
  6. El Huerfano/Martin Pedroza/Peter Miller/Wachtel Stabel and Gary Barber
  7. Hard Aces/Santiago Gonzalez/John Sadler/Hronis Racing LLC.

I’ll be pulling for California Chrome for his 6th straight win while I’m praying for a safe ride for all.  I believe Chrome will be awesome again.  My bet will be placed from Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY where I will be simulcasting and taking in some live racing.  Mr. Z returns in race 9 at Churchill Downs tomorrow and I love him.  He hasn’t raced since November, 2015.  I will always remember the day I met Mr. Z, at D. Wayne Lukas’ barn, in the early morning hours and he gave my bestie a love bite on the arm.  That is just too funny for me.  Check back soon for more photos and commentary from my adventures and education in racing.

 

 

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Weekday Wagering

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Good morning race fans!  I am headed back for the 4th day of Keeneland’s Fall Meet today, 10/7/15, and I have a little gift, or two, for you from our contributing handicapper!

On the 8th race you may want to go with the 8th horse.  He says, “Stand Guard could improve dramatically, from last start, and be a nice price!”  Race 8 at Keeneland today is 1 and 1/16 miles on the dirt .  It is a maiden special weight race for 2 year olds with a purse of $65,000.  The race should occur at 4:47 PM EST.  Stand Guard is a Kentucky bred horse sired by Awesome Again.  His dam is North Cork.  He has only raced once previously.  That was at Churchill Downs this past September when he finished 5th.  His jockey is Shaun Bridgmohan.  Wayne M. Catalano is the trainer with Gary and May West Stables, LCC for owners.  I’m hoping this colt has a big day at the track today and maybe makes each of you some money.

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As for gift number 2… here’s one more tip.  On Thursday, 10/8/15, look to race #6 at Keeneland and perhaps pick #7.  The tipster said, “Cha Mono ran well last time, at Kentucky Downs, after being in tight early.  Greg Foley (trainer) is a solid 23% switching from turf to dirt.” Race 6 is scheduled to go off at 3:51 PM EST.  It is a race for 3 year olds and up which have never won 2 races.  The purse is $58,000 and the race is 6 and 1/2 furlongs on the dirt.  Cha Mono has had 11 career starts.  In his 1st four races he was always 2nd or third.  Then he won 1st at Ellis Park in July of 2014.  Since then he struggled for the next 4 races before coming in at 2nd and 3rd in his last two starts.  If his history repeats, it looks like he is due for a win this time.  This 4 year old gelding is Kentucky bred between First Samurai and Gregoriana.  His jockey is Corey J. Lanerie.  He is owned by Golden Shamrock Farms, LCC. and trained by Gregory D. Foley.  It would be sweet if Thursday is Cha Mono’s day to win!

I hope each of you enjoyed the tips!  Have some great weekdays at the races.  I wish to see you there.  Drop me a comment, please.  Thanks again!

Update:  Both Stand Guard and Cha Mono came in 4th in their races.  Look for my next post.  Hoping for better luck tomorrow!

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