Breeders’ Cup Eve is upon us with today’s event, The Prelude to the Cup! For those lucky enough to make it to Keeneland in Lexington, KY we are in for a special treat. Today, 10/29/15, Keeneland has been draped in rich purple to covert my favorite race course into the grounds for the 2015 Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
I will be present today after the gates open at 11 A.M. EST to witness 9 live races and Breeders’ Cup contenders schooling in the paddock. Race 1 starts at 12:30 P.M. Race 8 posts at 4:24 P.M. and is the feature race, The Lafayette Stakes. Our handicapper friend drew my attention to the 5th race. He says to pay attention to “horse 9, Cheryl D. Trainer, Larry Rivelli, wins a sharp 26% with first timers. This 2 year old daughter of red hot Uncle Mo has a nice set of works and she should be ready to win at first asking. Let’s hope we get close to the 8-1 morning lines.”
Race 5 has a purse of $56,000 and is a maiden special weight. Twelve 2 year old fillies will compete in this 6 and 1/2 furlong race. Cheryl D has had two nice workouts at Keenleand this month and 3 works at Arlington prior. She was bred in Kentucky. Her breeder was John Liviakis. Her jockey will be Jose Valdivia, Jr. He is an experienced rider with multiple graded stakes wins including the 2001 Breeders’ Cup Mile and the 2011 Belmont Stakes. Larry Rivelli has trained horses in over 4 thousand starts. More than 300 of those races took place this year. He has won multiple graded stakes too.
I am pretty excited to have a chance to preview our Breeders’ Cup contenders in the paddock today. I am blown away by the caliper of this year’s participants. There is even a Triple Crown winner for me to see live, wow! All eyes will be on that fantastic champ, American Pharoah but I’m pretty crazy about seeing my buddy, Mr. Z again too. I’m in awe of them all.
If you can’t make it, don’t worry. I will get those pictures for your eyes to feast upon!
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.
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!
Here we are, its 5/16/15, time for the 140th running of the Grade I Preakness Stakes! In the lucky 13th Pimlico race of the day, at 6:18 p.m. EST, the 1.5 million dollar purse race will begin. Just 8 of 14 possible horses, the smallest field since 2000, are competing in this race and only one of them could someday be a Triple Crown winner!
The Preakness Stakes takes place at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. Just like the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes it shares the same dirt track, flower, and drink. See yesterdays post Filly Friday. They also eat crabcakes, yuk! To make the Black-Eyed Susan flower blanket, for the winning horse, since 1940, they painted the centers of about 4 thousand daisies black, now they use Viking Poms. I fudged a little on my own flower pic above too and darkened up the middle. The race is called “The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans.” The reason they use the wrong flower is because the Black Eyed Susan blooms in June in Maryland and it is only May so daisies are in season. I just need to take more flower pictures, myself. The winning owner gets a silver trophy replica of The Woodlawn Vase, made in 1860 and valued at 1 million dollars. This copy is sterling valued at $30,000. They also paint the jockey silks on the weather vane on top of the Old Clubhouse to match the winning owner’s colors after the race is won. The song of the day is “Maryland, My Maryland.” It reminds me of “O Christmas Tree.”
The first race occurred in 1873. By 1932 it was the second leg of the Triple Crown series. Secretariat ran the speed record at 1:53. Smarty Jones won by the most lengths at 11 and 1/2.
Let’s check out the contenders, listed in post position…
American Pharoah
Dortmund
Mr. Z
Danzig Moon
Tale of Verve
Bodhisattva
Divining Rod
Firing Line
I want a Triple Crown winner. We have not seen one since 1978 with Affirmed. Thus, I’m pulling for the favorite, American Pharoah. The KY Derby was his 5th win straight of 6 starts. 4 of those wins were Grade I stakes. He won an Eclipse Award at 2 years old. This horse won the KY Derby by a length. He is a California horse just like last years winner, California Chrome. Right next to American Pharoah on the rail is Dortmund, these two horses have the same trainer Bob Baffert. All 3 of his previous KY Derby winners have gone on to win the Preakness. Baffert has trained 5 Preakness winners total. Dortmond lost his first race ever at the KY Derby but still managed to come in 3rd, 3 lengths behind the winner. Mr. Z was just involved in a quick sale. He was owned by Zayat Stables when he came in 13th in a field of 18 at the KY Derby. Just days ago, Calumet Farm in Lexington, KY bought him and decided to give him the chance Zayat was not. Zayat still has American Pharoah in the race and he was going to give Mr. Z a break to build confidence. The trainer, D. Wayne Lukas, remained throughout and he thinks the horse is ready now. The fun thing about studying horse racing is the learning. I would have figured horses hated the transportation part but his trainer says the scenic van ride from Kentucky to Maryland was very good for the horse. Calumet Farms has the most wins of any owner in the Preakness. Lukas has the 2nd most wins of any trainer in the Preakness. Danzig Moon also ran in the KY Derby. He came in 5th place running from the 5th pole position. This Thoroughbred is close to the same post now. He lost by more than 6 lengths. Of the 8 horses running the Preakness, 5 ran in the KY Derby and he was the 2nd to last of these. Jockey Julien Leparoux did prefer this horse to ride over Divining Rod. Tale of the Verve wanted to run in the KY Derby but he didn’t make the cut. He has won a Gr. I stakes of the same length as the Preakness. He won his maiden race at Keeneland. Tale of the Verve is probably your biggest long shot of the day. Bodhisattva was not a KY Derby horse. He is however, the only horse in the race with a win at Pimlico. Divining Rod did not run in the KY Derby either. He is probably the best of the 3 without KY Derby experience. This horse did win the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland and he has Javier Castellano for a jockey. He just won the 2015 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at this same track yesterday! Last but not least, Firing Line, was 2nd place by a length in the KY Derby. Thus we have the top 3 KY Derby horses running in the Preakness. That has happened 7 times in the prior 20 years and never have they come in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in repeat order.
My handicapper says, “Historically, horses that win the derby from on or near the pace do extremely well in the Preakness. Derby winners that come from far back have struggled in the Preakness. Since the top three finishers in the KY Derby were all very close to the lead, I expect all three of them to run very well in Baltimore. I will be boxing American Pharoah, Firing Line, and Dortmund in the exacta and I’ll add Danzig Moon in a trifecta and superfecta box.”
My tipster also inspired me to consider the strong possibility of rain. Looks like the favorite American Pharoah loves mud. 34 horses have won the KY Derby and the Preakness. Fingers crossed, I want the chance at the Triple Crown!
Update: A record crowd of 131,680 attended the Preakness to see American Pharoah win. This was the 14th time since 1978’s Triple Crown that a horse has won both the KY Derby at the Preakness. Finish order was:
Final Update: American Pharoah for the win, Firing Line in 2nd, and Dortmund in 3rd
UPDATE! International Star just scratched.
I should be sleeping, but I’m blogging. I’m too excited for rest anyway. Tomorrow, Saturday May 2, 2015 at 6:34 p.m. EST is the 141st running of the Kentucky Derby! I wavered on my pick for the Oaks, she showed, but tomorrow it is time to seize the day. I have my sights set on Carpe Diem, he has been my favorite for a long time. Before I get ahead of myself, we need to explore the history, traditions, contenders, and keep it fun.
The Kentucky Derby was ran at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky for the first time in 1875. It is the only race in the Triple Crown that has run consecutively since its beginning. It is also the youngest of the 3 races. The Preakness started in 1867 and took time off from 1891 to 1893. The Belmont began in 1873 but took a break from 1911 to 1912. The first Triple Crown winner, Sir Barton, ran in 1919.
The Derby is also called The Run for the Roses. The winning horse has received a garland of roses since 1896. The drink of choice is the distinctive, but not delicious, Mint Julep, consisting of bourbon and crushed mint, like booze and toothpaste, yuk. The pie, named for the day, is quite yummy and when I start making You Tube videos I am going to share my version with you. I plan to start the You Tube thing soon as I just got a book on it. The song, of course is, “My Old Kentucky Home”. The fastest Derby horse ever clocked was Secretariat in 1971. Only one other horse has beat the 2 minute mark. That happened in 2001 with Monarchos. This race is 1 and 1/4 miles (10 furlongs) on the dirt. It will be the 11th race of the day at Churchill. The purse is 2 million dollars. There will be 4 trophies issued. A gold trophy goes to the winner and a silver one for each the jockey, trainer, and owner. The side depicts a horseshoe and the top has a mounted horse. Don’t forget the hats. Ladies, be creative. Spend big, make a fashion statement, or make your own hat. Be on the lookout for markdown hats in the Fall and Winter then custom design your hat to match your dress, with a stop at your favorite hobby shop. Go from drab to fab if your mom is good with a glue gun, wire cutters and thread.
Finally, lets get to the horses! Listed by post position the Derby will feature:
Ocho Ocho Ocho
Carpe Diem
Materiality
Tencendur
Danzig Moon
Mubtaahij
scratch
Dortmund
Bolo
Firing Line
scratch
scratch
Itsaknockout
Keen Ice
Frosted
War Story
Mr. Z.
American Pharoah
Upstart
Far Right
Frammento
American Pharoah is the favorite. He lost his first start but has not been defeated since, he is a speed horse but he has to cut to the rail from a great deal away. He is the reining juvenile champion. He is owned by Zayat Stables just as Mr. Z is. They are running side by side and he is also a speed horse. They do have different trainers, the 1st is Bob Baffert ,who took all of his fillies out of the Oaks, and the later is D. Wayne Lukas.
Dortmund is the 2nd favorite. He is sired by 2008 Derby winner Big Brown. He has the experience of 6 races including this very track where he won by over 7 lengths. He is running undefeated, as is Materiality. Only 7 undefeated horses have ever won the Derby. Dortmund is trained by Baffert, as is the favorite. He is also a fan of the speed. I like his position better too. He is one of 3 California horses in the race, including Firing Line and Bolo. Firing Line is also known for speed and finished close 2nd twice to Dortmond but also set a track record for 1 and 1/8 miles at the Sunland Derby of just 1 minute and 47 seconds. He is a steady runner. Bolo, has finished third to Dortmund twice this year.
Carpe Diem and Materiality also have to come out side by side under the same trainer, Todd Pletcher, but are owned by separate groups. Both speed horses they have to be careful not to get in each others way. Carpe Diem has won 4 of 5 races and was 2nd only in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, he has shown a lot of versatility in his races. DanzigMoon trailed him at 2nd place in the Bluegrass Stakes. Materiality was the winner of the Florida Derby.
Ocho Ocho Ocho will also speed early. He is sired by 2007 Derby winner, Street Sence. He is right on the rail, so that should get him out in front but I do not think he can keep up the pace for the duration. Far Right isn’t as far out to the right as he was positioned before Pletcher scratched a third horse, and yet another last minute scratch. He is a deep closer, perhaps the strongest closer, so he can probably handle his position. He has run second to American Pharaoh and will benefit from this race being a bit longer. International Star and Keen Ice are closers too. Keen Ice has run third to International Star and looks to be a longshot. He is owned by the lovely Irish, Donegal Racing. International Star is so experienced with 20 to 1 wins. He is sired by 2000 Derby winer, Fusaichi Pegasus. He won the Louisiana Derby. He is owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, the winningest owners at both Churchill and Keeneland. Frammento was added in when Pletcher pulled a horse out. He has no stakes wins this year. He does have the experienced and derby winning Nick Zito for a trainer.
Frosted could be a pleasant surprise. He had surgery recently to improve his breathing and he is trained by Kiaran McLaughlin who is no newbie to the Derby or major racing. He has the same odds as Upstart, who ran second in the Florida Derby to Materiality.
Other long shots include Tencendur, Itsaknockout, and War Story. Tencendur runs with the pace. Itsaknockout lacks experience and was fourth by a distance in the Florida Derby. International Star has beat out War Story, also a closer, 3 times.
Mubtaahij may have done the best job of staying off the radar. No Middle East horses have won the Derby yet but he has a fighting chance. He is in a good post position. He has talent and won the United Arab Emirates Derby. This will be his first race in the United States.
I gave you my pick. My tipster opted out of a tip, this time, but shared a lot of materials. Two of my experienced and winning friends volunteered their favorite horse for this Derby. They say, go with Firing Line, with Mr. Prospector and Raise a Native on both sides of the pedigree. Looking at recent Derby winners, and his loss by a nose to Dortmund, after a bump, and again by just a nose, to the same, he is ready to win. In his last start he won by over 14 lengths! One winning Derby horse since 2010 has defaulted by this bloodline. That amazing freak of nature was Animal Kingdom in 2010.
As for the fun… I hope everyone does something special to enjoy the Kentucky Derby. Keeneland is hosting the world’s largest party and that is where I will be. Whatever you do, seize the day! Please, follow me on Twitter and Facebook, also ThoroughbredU. Go Carpe Diem! I leave you with 2 great songs:
For better or worse and for freeze advisory this late in the season, brr! This is your last chance at Keeneland’s Spring Meet.
The handicapper says, in Race 8 choose #5 Eastwood for 4/24/15. He raced against some very nice sprinters in New York last summer and is working well for his return.
I had my last personal visit to the track for the season today. It was wonderful and emotional. If you can make it to tomorrow’s final live races, bet this one for me and all of of our followers!
Update: The tip was spot on. Eastwood won 1st place!
So sorry to see the season end. Its time to focus on the Kentucky Derby now!
Here is a nice picture I took from the stalls in Keeneland’s paddock. In the background there is one of the racetrack’s newer extensions. It is the Saddling Paddock Chalet. This is a private room with nice views available for the Spring and Fall Meets this year and the Breeders’ Cup Championships.
On the topic of extensions, my tipster chose Town Extension, as today’s best bet. In Keeneland’s sixth race today, 4/23/15, pick horse #9. He has been a very consistent horse finishing in the money 7 of the last 8 races. He should show a nice late kick on the Keeneland turf course.
This 5 year old gray beauty has Paco Lopez for a jockey. Barclay Tagg is his trainer. Town Extension is owned by Charles Fipke. This is his first race at Keeneland. This horse has had 15 starts and the last 6, over the course of 3 years, have been at Gulfstream Park.
Let’s give this Thoroughbred a warm Kentucky welcome and win!
Update! Town Extension won 1st place. Here are some pictures I took myself:
Happy Earth Day! I am going to spend my day checking out some earth, particularly the dirt, or mud in Kentucky. It is another rainy day at the races for me. Keeneland’s Spring Meet is on its final 3 days and rain or shine I want to experience it all.
My handicapping friend has another tip for us today, 4/22/15. He says in Keeneland’s sixth race go for horse # 6, Dance Champion. He calls this your best bet of the day. This horse just ran second at this distance last time out and should get a nice trip! This last race was at Gulfstream Park in March. See that placing race here.
Dance Champion has jockey Joel Rosario. The 4 year old gelding’s trainer is Christophe Clement. His owner and breeder is Robert S. Evans.
Time to get ready for the races. Have a great day, don’t forget to dance and celebrate for Earth Day and win big!
Update: Here are some paddock pics, that I took myself, of today’s big winner!
Dance Champion did score 1st place today! Hope all of you won bragging rights at the water cooler or better yet at a racetrack!
Good morning everyone. After listening to your reverend on the pulpit this morning come watch Reverend Green on the paddock and track today at Keeneland.
In race 6 (4/19/15) bet on #7 Reverend Green to win his maiden race. He has solid work tabs, especially in the two recent Keeneland works. He should be ready to win at first asking, says our tipster. He worked out at Keeneland on the 2nd and 8th of this month and then again today.
He is a 3 year old colt owned by Glencrest Farm. His dam, Papa to Kinzie, had 9 starts and placed in a graded stakes race. His sire, Elusive Quality, is a multiple graded stakes winner. His trainer is Thomas Proctor and his jockey is Jamie Theriot. Reverend Green has had no starts while Proctor has had 128 this year so far and is a top earning winner of multiple graded stakes and Breeders’ Cup achievements. Theriot has had 183 starts this year and he too is a winner of many graded stakes and Breeders’ Cup races.
On a side note, Reverend Green is also a nickname for America singer, Al Green. He has had success with both secular and gospel recordings.
Update: Reverend Green was not a winner today. I stood in the paddock today to watch this rain shy beauty. He looked dry and warm in his shelter while I was neither. Here are a few paddock pics of this horse.
Tipster says: Most likely winner, Hootenanny. He’s won against the best in the world. Wesley Ward should have him ready to beat this bunch.
So today (4/18/15) look to Keeneland’s 4th race for another double feature. Go for horse 1 and 1A to bet on Asia and Hootenanny.
The trainer, Ward, has had 149 starts this year. His horses have had 40 wins, 27 at 2nd place and 20 running third in 2015. He is a successful jockey turned trainer. Hootenanny won Ward his first race, as a trainer, in the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.
Should be a beautiful day for another turf race. I hope all of you have a great day at the races!
Update: Asia scratched prior to the race but Hootenanny ran 1st place! I hope this helped you all to win.
Coming off of a high from today’s winning tip I am eager to share my handicapper’s next choice with all of you.
Tomorrow (4/17/15) for Keeneland’s seventh race, go with #10 Harvey. The tip states he broke his maiden impressively after being bumped hard at the break. Trainer Bret Calhoun had a nice winner Thursday and seems to have brought several nice horses to Keeneland this meet.
I am glad he put it that way. It gives us a chance to learn a bit more. A horse is a maiden until it wins a race. This could be the first race it starts in, it may take years or worse, it may never happen. Harvey is a three year old colt that ran 1st at Fair Grounds in Louisiana on 3/21/15. Thus, Harvey is no longer a maiden. Watch him win here:
Harvey was sired by the great Curlin, elected to the National Muesum of Racing’s Hall of Fame and winner of the Preakness Stakes, Breeders’ Cup Classic, and the Dubai World Cup.
Enjoy tomorrow’s racing!
Update: Harvey ran second. A ticket to place earned $5.40. He was shy in the paddock prior to racing. Here is a picture I took moments before he entered the track…
