MAIN MISCHIEF ($7.62) captured the opener with Pampered second for a $26.16 exacta. MAJESTICAL ($2.30) hung late but managed a deadheat in the second race. MR. TAPPS ($8.54) reported home on top in the third, with Our Forefathers second for a $39.02 exacta and Commitment Fund third for a $20.20 50-cent tri. HARD CHAMP ($11.38) won the fifth race with Order Restored second for a $76.60 exacta! JOYFUL FLIGHT ($18.66) won the seventh race easily. The Bryan Station (G2) was taken by BOTTAS ($7.50) and then, SASSMASTER ($4.46) survived an inquiry in the finale, with Preside second for a $10.06 exacta ending a lovely day.
Blustery Keeneland Saturday a Success
Despite the chilliness and “off the turf” events, Keeneland’s Saturday card provided some opportunities for Pope Jude fans. TROUBLE TIME ($4.34) took the first race and gave us a glimmer of hope. DECIMATION ($8.02) continued his upward swing to win the sixth event. The Perryville (G3) really got us going with DR. KAPUR ($50.24) using his late kick for a major score and a $284.26 $2 Daily Double. Then, CAVIAR BREAKFAST ($6.44) won the eighth race and completed a $592.88 $1.00 Pick #3!
A Little Light Through the QE II Day Dreariness
Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) card at Keeneland was run in a mixed bag of weather, as remnants of Hurricane Isaias sauntered through Lexington. Favored LOST CHORD ($3.64) took the opener, with Lexico second for a $7.16 exacta. GLOBAL UNREST ($12.46) won the fifth. Then, WHERE LUCK LIVES ($5.14) captured the sixth race with Sneaky Good second for a $16.92 exacta. TAM TAM ($10.54) won the QE II (G1) rather easily with Faithful Departed second for a $30.60 exacta. Bob Baffert-trained KAY KAY ($5.08) was the winner of the nightcap with the final daily double returning $21.84. We left the track unscathed!
Saturday of FallStars Weekend Fun for Pope Jude Fans
Keeneland’s opening Saturday was an enjoyable one. COMMENTATE ($6.02) made a hellacious late run to mow down the leaders in the opener, much in the same style as his workmate Golden Tempo does in his races. CHANCERY ($3.02) got the pocket trip we hoped for to win the second. Trainer Graham Motion stayed hot, winning the third race at a bonus price with SIOUXSE ($14.58). Tulip ran second for a $61.58 exacta. The early Pick 3 came back $38.33. The fourth event went to C K WONDER ($6.52) and then WHO DEY ($5.46) annexed the fifth, with Bullard second for a $17.82 exacta. The early Pick 5 returned $174.79. EVANESCENCE ($7.98) won the Thoroughbred Club of America (G2), keeping her 14-race, “never out of the money” streak alive! Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez is in top form and won the First Lady (G1) on CLASSIC Q ($20.08). A perfect stalking trip allowed AMERICAN HISTORY ($12.00) to win the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) with Coach Pope second for a $24.44 exacta. RHETORICAL ($5.72) retained his Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) crown with a popular victory capping the day.
Entertaining Lukas Classic (G2) Day
ASHES AND DIAMONDS ($9.84) got Lukas Classic (G2) day off to a great start. DEFENDING ALBERT ($8.94) followed, winning the second race and providing a nifty $47.84 Daily Double. STAUNCH ($6.02) was impressive breaking his maiden in his second start and then NYMIRA ($9.20) improved on her Horseshoe Indy maiden breaker. PLUTARCH ($5.38) lived up to his Triple Crown promise in the Bourbon Flight Stakes and keyed a $13.32 exacta with Local Knowledge and a $12.15 50-cent trifecta with Stimulate. The prices were excellent on the day and we cashed plenty of tickets despite some extra-tough races.
Opening Day of Belmont Park a Huge Success!
Pope Jude fans enjoyed a magnificent day in Belmont Park’s return to the calendar. LISA JOY ($26.72) got the ball rolling in the opener with DAVIDSON ($5.58) taking the second race for a $96.10 Shug McGaughey-trained Daily Double. The exacta with Under the Moon returned $21.66. FIORA ($7.40) won the third race and combined with Blazing Beauty for a $49.84 exacta. Then, A BOURBON FOR TOBY ($7.00) captured the fourth event. Not surprisingly, FOREVER YOUNG ($2.96) won the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) completing the Early Pick Four for $41.56 and a whopping $1006.40 Early Pick Five! CARD MAN ($3.10) took the seventh. NASH POTATOES ($15.74) reported home on top in the eighth race, combining with Math Tudor for a $252.66 exacta! MARIA CALLAS ($8.90) took the nightcap and completed a $56.96 late Pick Three. It was an awesome day!
Getaway Saturday at the Spa was Nice
U.S.S. VALOR ($3.64) got the closing Saturday festivities started. Many talking heads were lobbying for him to be the antepost Kentucky Derby (G1) favorite after his devastating stretch run - a premature but not a crazy idea. Tap Our Way finished second for a $19.20 exacta. HIGHLANDS WAY ($3.98) took the second event with Funny Factor the runner-up for a $19.32 exacta, Shirl’s Soul Town third for a $29.49 50-cent trifecta and Favorable Scenario providing an $8.16 dime superfecta. Trainer Joe Sharp took clever claim WYNSTOCK ($13.94) to the winners circle in the sixth race and then Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen got first-timer PHAROCITY ($10.66) home after some sparkling works, with Mischief Time running second for a $15.04 exacta. SUMMER STARLET ($5.24) was the prompt winner of the Spinaway (G1) for Asmussen, with Harper’s Corner second for a $26.06 exacta ending a nice day.
Sometimes, It's "Better a Short Price Than a Long Face"
NFL quarterback Russell Wilson and his wife Ciara welcomed their first racehorse, CLUB REIGN ($18.72) to the winners’ circle after the opener to get us going. Saratoga namesake, CAROLINE ST. BEAT ($3.54) took the fifth race with Sammy C. Note a game second for a $16.14 exacta. SHELZAWA ($6.54) won the seventh and then heavily-favored ENGLISHMAN ($2.82) dominated the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1) with Deep Flame second for a $5.28 exacta and Local Knowledge third for a $1.36 50-cent tri. We wiped the chalk off our faces only to have it reapplied by FULLY SUBSCRIBED ($3.68) in the Personal Ensign (G1) and French newcomer NAOMIS ($4.54) in the Lake Placid (G2). Book’em Danno got cast in his stall Saturday morning and was scratched from the Forego (G1), but HYMN ($11.40) picked up the slack with Senior Officer second for a $18.72 exacta. WAYS AND MEANS ($4.70) loves Saratoga and won the Resorts World Casino Ballerina (G1) in easy fashion.
Lovely Alabama (G1) Day
We kicked off the Alabama (G1) card with BUBSTER ($6.68) in the opener. AMERICAN HISTORY ($21.22) captured the third race with Art Museum second for a whopping $118.96 Pletcher-Brown exacta! PRIVATE PROPERTY ($8.90) won the fifth race and then FOREVER CARINA ($5.78) took the sixth. MY GUN’S LOADED ($8.74) upset Counting Stars in the Alabama (G1) capping off an exciting and successful day!
Crushing It on Saratoga Saturday
MATH TUTOR ($10.50) got us started from the bell. ROAD SHOW ($3.74) won the third and combined with Cut Down the Nets for a $10.20 exacta. Then, LADY ROSE ($4.24) won as expected in the fourth race and our lone contender in the fifth was scratched when it was taken off the turf. LIBBY LLOYD ($4.44) broke her maiden easily upon debut and combined with Groves for a $16.88 exacta. BITE AND STRIKE ($10.60) reported home on top in the seventh race and Q B ROCKET ($4.52) followed in the eighth. Five-year-old mare SURVIE ($10.96) crushed the Christophe Clement Turf (G1) field. Then, CADENZA ($10.08) took the tenth event and CALLING CARD ($5.66) won the eleventh in what would be our final event of the day when our horses chose to scratch in the last. It was a lovely day!
Chalky Arlington Million (G1) Day
PRACTICALLY DARK ($7.60) got the action started in the second race, with Goodbye Note in a deadheat for second combing for a pleasantly surprising $40 exacta! Not a shocker, ROJA ($2.80) won the Andy Guest Stakes and soon the Bob Baffert trainee SABINO CANYON ($9.40) won the Petramalo Mile Stakes combing with favored Bravaro for a $30 exacta, The Tyson Gilpin Stakes, the day’s 6th event was taken by heavily favored MASHALLAH ($2.80). MY BOY PRINCE ($6.60) captured the Van Clief Stakes with SUPERCHARGER ($8.40) taking his third straight score in the prestigious Secretariat (G2) for this year’s Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont (G1) winning trainer Cherie DeVaux. GIMME A NOTHER ($5.20) won the Beverly D. (G2) and BURNHAM SQUARE ($3.60) won the Arlington Million four his fourth straight stakes victory.
Fun Saratoga Opening Saturday!
MASHALLA ($3.10) unsurprisingly took the opener with Feminism second for a $8.44 exacta. EPONINE ($4.32) won the second race and Accent finished second completing an $11.12 exacta. SHELZAWA ($5.28) captured the third event with Nonconsecutivetrms, the runner-up for a $29.92 exacta. GRACE AND GRIT ($7.20) reported home first in the fourth race and when BOOKED ($4.74) took the Sanford (G3), he completed a $113.02 Early Pick Five, Euro invader TITLE ROLE ($16.68) won the Belmont Derby (G1) by a nose and MORNING PRAYER ($6.38) took the nightcap sending our fans home smiling.
Entertaining but Chalky Stephen Foster (G1) Card
Well, the rains indeed came. The early part of the card was a bit of a washout, but later on, the magical Churchill Downs track crew did their typical great job and got the main track raceable. The turf was rated good and those races were slated late in the card, mainly under some sunshine! BLACKOUT TIME ($6.72) got us started in the fourth and BRING THE SMOKE ($6.42) won the sixth, IMMERSIVE ($5.34) was unbelievably game in the Fleur de Lis (G2). Then ALPYLAND ($3.68) and Immortalized reprised their Penn Mile (G3) performances for a $15.46 exacta. LAGYNOS ($5.00) extended his winning streak to five in the Wise Dan (G2). MAGNITUDE ($7.16) put in a magnificent performance to win the featured Stephen Foster (G1) with Baeza breaking slowly again but running on for a $20.24 exacta leaving favored Sovereignty in their wake. TAM TAM ($6.04) captured the nightcap with East Jabip second for a $33.18 exacta, sending everyone home with a smile.
Half-price Report Due to Inclement Weather Forecast
The Full-Card Pope Jude Report for Saturday’s Stephen Foster (G1) Day will be only $5.00 due to predicted inclement weather.
Belmont (G1) Day Boon
Belmont (G1) Day at Saratoga kicked off with SENIOR OFFICER ($4.52) in the second race. NATIVE MELODY ($8.24) won the fourth event with Speightful Lily second for a $43.54 exacta and Helen’s Revenge third for a $31.67 50-cent tri. BOOK’EM DANNO ($5.72) lived up to his Saratoga love in the Truer North (G3) with Bentornato second for a $13.90 exacta. REEF RUNNER ($12.48) took the Jaipur (G1) with defending champion AG Bullet second for a $61.94 exacta. Speedy ENGLISHMAN ($10.56) turned the tables on Crude Velocity in the Woody Stephens (G1) and set a $20.58 exacta. NYSOS ($4.94) won the Met Mile (G1) with Knightsbridge second for a $26.56 exacta followed by Journalism for a $13.18 50-cent trifecta. Saratoga specialist DETERMINISTIC ($11.84) won the Resorts World Casino Manhattan (G1) stylishly. Kentucky Derby winner GOLDEN TEMPO ($14.00) asserted his class in the Belmont (G1) with SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN ($8.18) taking the nightcap for a $2314.47 Pick 5 and a $226.97 Pick 4, more than enough to buy dinner, even in New York.
Celebrating Preakness (G1) Day at Laurel Park
WICKEDDIVINE ($5.20) got Preakness (G1) day started in the second race. In the fourth event, STRIKER HAS DIAL ($16.40) posted the upset over a tough field. Favored OBLITERATION ($3.40) won the Chick Lang Stakes with Shane’s Wonder second for a $9.60 exacta and Igniter third for an $18.60 $1 trifecta. Millionaire FORT WASHINGTON ($7.80) asserted his class in the Dinner Party (G3). It was reported post-race that he was the first horse in 100 years to win back-to-back editions of this traditional Preakness (G1) day feature. WARMING ($19.80) showed her love of turf in the Gallorette (G3) and combined with Child of the Moon for a $98.40 exacta! CHASING LIBERTY ($9.20) took the Jim McKay Turf Sprint Stakes with Outlaw Kid a nose back for a $75 exacta. The Pick 3 paid $115.65 for 50-cents. New trainer Kelly Breen found the answer with GRANT THE GREAT ($3.40) in the nightcap, ending a fun and profitable day at Laurel.
Pope Jude Fans Score Some Boxcar Payoffs on Kentucky Derby (G1) 152 Card
POWERSHIFT ($4.14) got the day started in the opener, with runner-up Silent Way keying a $10.72 exacta. OUT OF THE WOODS ($26.14) took the second race with Sovereign Law finishing second for a whopping $299.98 exacta. VIBE ($16.48) reported home on top in the third and giving us a $128.42 Pick Three, Then YELLOW CARD ($7.80) annexed the 5th event. TOUR PLAYER ($8.70) won the sixth race with CRUDE VELOCITY ($5.14) grabbing the Pat Day Mile (G2). He combined with Englishman for a $10.80 exacta. STARK CONTRAST ($4.40) won the American Turf (G1) with Remember Mamba second for a $15.58 exacta. Old friend RHETORICAL ($5.92) unsurprisingly won the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (G1). The 152nd Kentucky Derby (G1) was won in dramatic come-from-behind fashion by the Cherie DeVaux-trained GOLDEN TEMPO ($48.24). Cherie became the first female trainer in history to win the Kentucky Derby(G1)! GILDED BANDIT ($5.68) was our last winner of the day and keyed a final Pick Three payout of $117.18 for 50-cents.
Pope Jude Fans Enjoy Three Pick Threes at Keeneland Saturday
CONSOLIDATED ($32.68) got the party started in the second race with CAPTURING ($11.46) taking the third event and MORUNNING ($4.80) out running his field in the fourth to end a $388.93 Pick 3. FLOODLITES ($6.52) grabbed the seventh with Watchatalkingabout second for a $12.20 exacta. WORKS FOR ME ($10.34) reported home on top in the eighth event with STARS AND STRIPES ($5.30) following in the Ben Ali (G3) finishing a $49.92 Pick 3. BURNHAM SQUARE ($4.56) absolutely crushed the VisitLEX Elkhorn (G2) field ending another Pick 3 for $32.66 send players home pleased with their day.
Some Bright Spots on the Stonestreet Lexington (G3) Card
Stonestreet Lexington (G2) Day kicked off with California interloper WEST COAST DREAM ($8.44) reporting to the winners’circle in the opener. First-timer PINTO ($6.92) won the fourth race, combining with Rockin Robin for an $11.78 exacta. ORIGINAL SIN ($14.48) captured the sixth event,with Authentic Strike completing a $51.32 exacta. WEST END KID ($5.72) won the finale with Heeere’s Johnny second for a $10.58 exacta to end a nice afternoon.
Toyota Blue Grass (G1) Day Chalkfest
Although the weather cleared some, Saturday’s Keeneland card was both chalky and a bit of a crapshoot. GILDED BANDIT ($8.32) got us off the mark in the second race. SIPPIN PRETTY ($6.10) continued he winning ways in the third. SAUDI CROWN ($4.02) captured the Commonwealth (G3). MY BOY PRINCE ($12.12) aced the Valvoline Global Shakertown (G2) and combined with Yellow Card for a $59.52 exacta! FURTHER ADO ($3.70) romped in the Toyota Blue Grass (G1) in a race reminiscent of his 20-length maiden breaker at Keeneland last October.