Asked to provide a special Thursday report for a private party, it's posted here for two bucks.
Let's build our Breeders' Cup bankroll!
NEXT POPE JUDE REPORTS WILL BE PUBLISHED FOR BREEDERS' CUP FRIDAY & SATURDAY
We are getting ready for the Breeders' Cup, studying the European form and watching workouts and film, so we'll have a great handle on all Breeders' Cup participants. Travel plans are set, and we'll be on the scene at Santa Anita, Sunday, October 30.
Listen to the Horse Racing Radio Network Xpressbet Weekend Stakes Preview Show at 6:00 PM ET Friday for information and selections the next two weekends. It is broadcast world-wide on Sirius 219/XM 206 and streamed live at horseracingradio.net. If you miss the show, there is also a podcast available on the HRRN website and at Horse Racing Radio on iTunes.
SIX TAKEAWAYS FROM BREEDERS' CUP PREVIEW SATURDAY
Here's six things we learned on Breeders' Cup Preview Saturday:
1) Javier Castellano has no idea how to ride Flintshire. It was just a matter of time before he got this superhorse beat. Despite his talent and success, Castellano continues to put the Juddmonte star in positions that require supreme efforts to be successful.
2) Oscar Performance is as good as we thought he was. We compared him to Big Brown and nothing in his Pilgrim (G3) performance suggests otherwise.
3) Trainer Charlton Baker can point a stakes horse to a race with the best of them. Joking ran huge in the Vosburgh (G1). Many claiming-type trainers have problems with stakes horses but not Charlie Baker.
4) Gormley could be the real deal. Trainer John Shirreffs is not noted for his two-year-olds, yet this son of Malibu Moon is two-for-two after the FrontRunner (G1), beating the talented Klimt on the square. He'll have the home track advantage in the BC Juvenile (G1) too.
5) Avenge can really run. She's in a tough division, but the Richard Mandella-trainee is among the major players.
6) Runhappy is a sprinter. There goes the Pegasus (G1). If his connections are smart, he'll be in the B.C. Sprint (G1) to defend his crown.
Pope Jude Back for BC Preview Day
Due to the short fields and even shorter prices, Saturday's Pope Jude report has a special $5.00 sale price. There is some money to be made, but Flintshire and California Chrome are not the place to find it. (Although, TVG is offering 5-1 on Chrome through HRRN.)
HORSES TO WATCH LIST - FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016
(5:45) BEL 9th Race - #11 ANATEVKA was given a test-ride by Joel Rosario in her debut, but closed strongly to finish a solid fourth. Trainer Michael Dilger employs top turf rider Jose Ortiz on the daughter of Lonhro in this spot, so major improvement can be expected. She is 4-1 on the morning line.
FRIDAY XPRESSBET WEEKEND STAKES PREVIEW SHOW RACE LINEUP FOR SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2016
The following races will featured on Friday's Expressbet Weekend Stakes Preview Show on HRRN. Tune in Friday evening at 6:00 PM ET or SIRIUS 219 /XM 206 or horseracingradio.net. You can also access the show podcast via Horse Racing Radio Network on iTunes.
BEL - Noble Damsel (G3)
CD - Dogwood (G3)
LRC - Los Al Derby (G2)
LRL - Commonwealth Oaks (G3)
LRL - Commonwealth Derby (G2)
LRL - Commonwealth Turf Cup (G2)
PRX - PA Derby (G2)
PRX - Cotillion (G1)
PRX - Gallant Bob (G3)
PRX - PA Derby Championship
HORSES TO WATCH LIST SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2016
(3:59) CD 4th Race - #1 PHONE CHICK ran better-than-looked in her Saratoga debut, breaking a step slow and making a nice middle move before flattening out late. From the barn of super longshot trainer Ignacio Correas, IV, this filly should improve leaps and bounds in her second start. The price will be square and if she gets into the frame, the exotics will be huge.
NEXT POPE JUDE REPORT OCTOBER 1
Pope Jude reports will return on Saturday, October 1 - Breeders' Cup Preview Day. Until then, the Pontiff will be appearing on the Xpressbet Weekend Stakes Preview show on the Horse Racing Radio Network (HRRN), every Friday evening from 6-7 ET, on Sirius 219 & XM 206. You can also stream the show live on horseracingradio.net and it is available on podcast via that site and on iTunes.
Check this site for horses on our exclusive "Horses to Watch" list, as they will be noted here upon entry. Any backstretch whispers will be posted as well.
Best of luck at the windows!
Final Spa Saturday
This will be the last Spa Saturday for another year. It's been a successful meeting despite the Traver's Day debacle when the track went from closers to speed in one race. Still, Arrogate was breathtaking and lots of memories were made at Saratoga 2016.
Fall is upon us and the next big racing days will be at the beginning of October and the Breeders' Cup at the beginning of November.
Best of luck at the wickets!
Arlington & Saratoga
Arlington Million Day was chalkier than we'd like, but there were still plenty of opportunities for Pope Jude fans to score. Lewis Vale, Da Big Hoss, Beach Patrol, Sea Calisi, Mondialiste and Noble Beauty all gave us something to cheer for and make a few bucks.
Saratoga's cancellation that day was unfortunate but justified and better for all concerned in the long run.
This past Saturday, Disco Partner ($10.40) kicked it off at the Spa with Oscar Performance ($14.00) and Favorable Outcome ($9.90) who combined for a $398.50 pick three. Ava's Kitten rolled that into a $224 pick three and Tourist made it three-in-a-row at $110.
Ashley Loves Sugar, California Chrome and Into the Mystic gave us a decent payoff at Del Mar, as the Richard Mandella-trained filly was bet down off her insane morning line.
Looking forward to Travers (G1) Day!
Popemobile Off to Chicago for the Arlington Million (G1)
We'll be off to Arlington Park on Thursday for the Arlington Million (G1) card. Our European connections are rock solid and we'll have the very best inside info on all the shippers from across the pond. Of course,we'll have selected races from the Spa as well.
We want to thank the Pope Jude fans who sent messages and tweeted about last weekend's successes. The $114.50 exacta of Tricked Up and Kabang in Saratoga's 5th and the $576 tri in the Fasig-Tipton Waya were obviously a great source of bankroll building during the day.
Have a great week!
Pope Jude Fans Crushed Jim Dandy Card
Pope Jude fans crushed it like a McGee last week.
Old Upstart at $13.40 got the ball rolling with Cerro for a $36.80 exacta. Highly touted Theory only paid $3.30, but the exacta with Reckling came back $20.60 and the tri with Kahramani was $117.50!
Mind Your Biscuits paid $8.30 and combined with Maniacal for a $31.40 exacta.
Deeply Undervalued at $4.90, Aussie Prayer at $7.30, free space Flintshire at $2.20 and red-hot trainer Tom Proctor's Newcomb in the nightcap at $8.80 rounded out the report.
A nice day was had by all.
Best of luck Whitney day!
Saratoga Rolls
The Spa has been very good to Pope Jude fans so far and we'll look to keep the roll going with the Jim Dandy (G2) card.
We learned this week that the horse, Jim Dandy, actually won only seven times in 141 starts, but he beat the great Gallant Fox in the Travers Stakes at 100-1 and that was enough to get a major race named after him! Jim Dandy competed until he was 12 and the last four years he raced, he never even finished in the money.
Due to inclement weather in the forecast at Monmouth, our Haskell (G1) report has been scrapped.
Good luck at Saratoga!
See You at the Spaaaaaaa!
Last Saturday's report didn't start until cocktail hour, but it was well worth the wait. In all, eight winners in the ten races listed on the report had many Pope Jude fans lining their pockets or bolstering their online wagering accounts.
We'll be at Saratoga for the entire meeting, except for a four-day trip to the Arlington Million. The Spa is a place where informed handicapping is paramount to success and our information pipeline is strong.
Opening Day "Where the Turf Meets the Surf"
By popular demand, we have done a report for Opening Day at Del Mar. Last year, Pope Jude fans kicked off the meet with four winners in nine races including Montego Bay at $32.20. That's a lot to live up to, but we've beat the bushes and hopefully we can guide you to a profitable day in 2016. A special $5 price too.
Huge Saturday Cards at Arlington and Belmont
Six graded stakes at Belmont Park and four at Arlington Park make Saturday's action pretty spiffy class-wise. Delaware Park has a couple too. Let's #GetHot and #StayHot!
If you ever have a chance to go to the Queen's Plate, do it! What a great day of racing among some die-hard fans and food and music lovers. Prince Harry is reportedly contemplating a trip to Woodbine for the 2017 edition, so make your plans early!
Ohio Derby Day Plus CD PRX BEL & SA
Saturday's report includes selected races from the Ohio Derby Day card, as well as some from Churchill Downs, Parx, Belmont Park and Santa Anita. It looks like a fun day of racing that should offer a few chances to make a good score.
Best of luck at the windows!
Solid Stephen Foster (G1) Saturday
Kicking it off with a cold exacta is always a good thing. Couple that with Walkabout at $10.60 and Pope Jude fans had plenty of dough to play with Saturday night. Bradester's Stephen Foster score was the key for many, according to the emails we received, as the overlay on him was ludicrous.
We'll try 'em again this coming Saturday.
Have a great week!
Nice Preakness Weekend
It's no secret that Preakness weekend is the best event the Triple Crown offers. Pope Jude fans no doubt enjoyed both days with a half-dozen winners on both reports and the ridiculous $33.80 Marengo Road paid on Preakness day. How did the local fans ignore him? The Pontiff crushed him.
Nifty slate of stakes Saturday, but keep an eye on the tote board. Belmont day is right around the corner and it promises to be a super day of racing.
Chalky Belmont Card - No Pope Jude Report for Saturday
Do to short fields, unpredictable weather and chalky contenders, there will be no report for Saturday, May 14.
Get your Black-Eyed Susan Day and Preakness Day reports next week and keep our roll going!