PREVALENCE, SPENDARELLA and ZANDON all got the candy on Saturday at Keeneland. MO DONEGAL, SPEAKER’S CORNER and WIT made the New York Pope Jude fans happy and at Santa Anita TAIBA and GOING GLOBAL carried the banner. It was a chalky day across the country, but we cashed lots of tickets and enjoyed the Kentucky Derby (G1) steppingstones.
DERBY PREP SATURDAY - FLORIDA, ARKANSAS & KENTUCKY
The trifecta of MAIN EVENT, RED DANGER and SMOKIN’ T kicked off the Florida Derby (G1) day festivities for Pope Jude fans followed by a runaway victory by Ghostzapper’s son FEARLESS in the Ghostzapper (G3). CRYSTAL CLIFFS and STOLEN HOLIDAY then combined for the exacta in the Sand Spring Stakes. The best two fillies, KATHLEEN O. and GODDESS OF FIRE ran 1-2 in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) with PHANTOM CURRENCY reporting home first in the Appleton (G3) and WHITE ABARRIO taking the Florida Derby (G1) combining with CHARGE IT for the exacta and SIMPLIFICATION for the tri.
LIFE IS HARD started the action at Oaklawn Park and then WESTERN RIVER and PLAUSIBLE DENILE coupled up for a nice exacta. FULSOME upset CEZANNE for the exacta in the Oaklawn Mile (G3). MACRON closed for an allowance score and jockey Florent Geroux made a wise choice riding CYBERKNIFE in the Arkansas Derby (G1).
Trainer Mike Maker had himself a day at Turfway Park and ENID got it started. Jockey Gerardo Corrales chose to ride NOBALS in the Animal Kingdom which proved to be the right decision. TIZ THE BOMB was best as predicted in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) wrapping up a fun afternoon in Florence, Kentucky.
RAINY TAMPA BAY DERBY (G2) DAY
TAMPA BAY DOWNS - SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 2022
(3:14) TAM 7th Race – Chad Brown holds the aces in the Hillsborough (G2). Undefeated #5 BLEEKER STREET heads the field, looking to win her fifth straight. The daughter of Quality Road is proven over this course although we don’t know how much the rain will affect the going. Stablemate #6 ROCKY SKY had an absolutely horrid trip in the Saratoga Invitational (G3 – soon to be a G1). Chad wisely regrouped with her and the daughter of Rocket Gibraltar should revert to her solid Irish form this afternoon, especially if there is give in the ground. #7 RUNAWAY RUMOR should be considered. The Flintshire filly has run well against graded company, gets Jose Ortiz for the first time and she owns the top turf figure in this field.
(3:49) TAM 8th Race – Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher is particularly adept with horses coming off layoffs. He sends out #4 DYNAMIC ONE for the Challenger (G3). The son of Union Rags was a decent three-year-old and should be even better at four. His works are solid, he handles off going and Irad Ortiz, Jr. sticks with him. Fellow Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey will saddle #3 GREATEST HONOUR. The son of Tapit has won three of seven starts while never finishing out of the money. He’ll get Lasix for the first time this afternoon and certainly has claims to the top prize with brother Jose Ortiz in the irons.
(4:51) TAM 10th Race – If the Columbia Stakes stays on the grass, the Shug McGaughey-trained #6 FORT WASHINGTON is the preferred option. The son of War Front has turf experience, gets Lasix and a jockey switch to Hall of Famer Javier Castellano. If the race is switched to the main track, #3 KITTEN MISCHIEF would be the top contender. The Into Mischief gelding has won on an off track, although it wouldn’t surprise us if he liked the sod as well. No doubt jockey Manny Franco will be more aggressive with the Jonathan Thomas trainee today.
(5:23) TAM 11th Race – #4 CLASSIC CAUSEWAY ran a lovely race in the Sam F. Davis (G3), his first race of 2022. Trained to perfection by Brian Lynch, he basically overpowered the field. There are a couple of interesting newcomers in the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2), but the son of Giant’s Causeway from a Thunder Gulch mare owns a pedigree that absolutely screams mud, he’s been breezing great since his comeback win and gets the benefit of jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. Second in the ‘Davis (G3), #9 SHIPSATIONAL is two-for-two on off tracks. The son of Midshipman, from the Eddie Barker shedrow, has won three of five lifetime starts and is also out of a Thunder Gulch mare. Jockey Manny Franco takes the reins this afternoon as Javier Castellano jumps ship for one of the new faces, #8 MAJOR GENERAL. From the Pletcher barn, that one is a son of Constitution who has won both of his starts. Unraced since September, he’ll need his best effort to win but the Triple Crown is a long game. #3 HAPPY BOY ROCKET impressed us when breaking his maiden at Gulfstream Park in January. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott has been pointing the son of Runhappy to this race and a big effort can be expected with Junior Alvarado back aboard.
“Here’s hoping the next ticket you buy is a winning one.” Dick Riley
Horse Racing Radio Network Appearances This Week
The Pontiff will be hosting “Race Day on HRRN” Thursday, February 24 and Friday, February 25 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM on Sirius219/XM201 and streaming live on horseracingradio.net. In addition he will host the “Weekend Stakes Preview” presented by NYRA Bets on Friday, February 25 from 6:00 to 7:00 PM on the same channels and website. Therefore there will not be a popejude.com report for Saturday. International pedigree expert and handicapper Bob Nastanovich will join him on all three broadcasts.
Nice Pegasus World Cup Day
Pope Jude fans enjoyed a productive Pegasus World Cup Day at Gulfstream Park, with 10 winners on the albeit chalky report, although as they say in golf, “You’ve got to take what the course gives you.” BEAUTIFUL LOVER was the best of the mild upsetters at $10.20, while SPACE TRAVELLER helped key in nice trifecta ($70.90 for 50-cents) in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Turf (G1).
Winners Galore on Travers (G1) Day!
The Travers (G1) day full-card Saratoga report featured 10 winners on the card. First-time starter JACK CHRISTOPHER kicked off the skein with a sharp 1:09 4/5 performance in the second race. Trainer Chad Brown announced his next start should come in Belmont’s Champagne (G1). Another Brown trainee, VIADERA, took the Ballston Spa (G2) in a bounce back performance - her second run after a long layoff. New York-bred WHITTINGTON PARK added blinkers and took the fifth. Fellow New Yorker BIG PACKAGE won the sixth against open company and champion GAMINE won the Ketel One Ballerina (G1) for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert. YAUPON was lucky and game to win the Forego (G1) after being savaged in the stretch by FIRENZE FIRE. Then JACKIE’S WARRIOR and LIFE IS GOOD put on a show in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1). Not surprisingly, international superstar LETRUSKA beat her rivals in the Personal Ensign (G1) and Christophe Clement added to his magnificent Saratoga meeting, taking photos with GUFO after the Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer (G1). The ultra-talented ESSENTIAL QUALITY ran another corker in the Travers (G1) and ended the chalkfest on a memorable note.
Pope Jude Fans Crush Saratoga's Whitney (G1) Day
Saturday’s Whitney (G1) card was a virtual cash machine for Pope Jude fans who started off their day with FORT PECK ($23.40) in the second race. The Pick Five and Pick Four sequences were popular hits too, according to the emails we received - “I thought we were cooking with gas when Fort Henry won the second,” wrote Jason. “(Joseph O’Brien) killed them. (State of Rest) made the day.”
The Pick Five started off with BELLA SOFIA ( $10.40) and followed with STATE OF REST ($44.20). Chalky KNICKS GO ($4.10) went wire-to-wire in the Whitney (G10 as predicted, but DANNY CALIFORNIA ($15.80) and TIME LIMIT ($10.40) ensured the payoffs would be juicy. The 50-cent Pick Five returned $3495.75 and the Pick Four paid $833.25. Gene wrote, “Well, I never saw the nine (State of Rest) coming but I hope you are right the rest of the way.” Luckily we were, and Gene followed up with, “I promise, my wife’s happy too! One of these days I have to buy you a drink.”
Coolmore Runners Anchor Nice Day for Pope Jude Fans
SANTA BARBARA, winner of the Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1) and BOLSHOI BALLET, winner of the Belmont Derby Invitational (G1) were keys to success on Saturday’s Belmont Park card for many Pope Jude fans. Both were ridden by Ryan Moore and trained by Aidan O’Brien for their international owners. Lee Weber, a longtime PJ supporter, sent a text: “U taught me how to bet the Pick 3 and Pick 4. I singled the Euros in all my bets!” Upsetters like DALIKA ($10.60) at Delaware Park and SCOCCIATORE ($12.80) at Belmont aided others in having an excellent wagering day.
Pope Jude Fans Enjoy Belmont Stakes (G1) Day
It was a fun Belmont (G1) Saturday for Pope Jude fans with contenders WIT, DRAIN THE CLOCK, LONE ROCK, SEARCH RESULTS, LETRUSKA, ALTHIQA, DOMESTIC SPENDING, ESSENTIAL QUALITY and HARD LOVE posing for winners’ circle photos. Some nifty exactas contributed to the bottom line with Drain the Clock & Jackie’s Warrior ($45.40), Lone Rock & Tizamagician ($36), Search Results & Obligatory ($15.80), Althiqa & Summer Romance ($82.50), Essential Quality & Hot Rod Charlie ($15) while Hard Love & Desert Peace ($128.50) capped off a lovely afternoon of racing.
FRIDAY & SATURDAY REPORTS GOOD TO POPE JUDE FANS
Pope Jude fans enjoyed a tremendous opening day of Keeneland with winners and exactas led by an excellent win by SA FORADADA ($27.80) for trainer Ben Colebrook in the day’s sixth race. Saturday players also cashed a bunch of tickets on the day and were dutifully impressed when trainer John Sadler’s ROCK YOUR WORLD ($12.40) upset the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and keyed a $38.80 exacta with race favorite MEDINA SPIRIT trained by Bob Baffert.
Pope Jude Fans #GetHot on Saturday with Gulfstream Stakes
With I GET IT ($7.80) in the Sanibel Island, SWEET BYE AND BYE ($4.00) in the Sand Springs, BASIN ($5.00) in the Sir Shackleton, CHURN N BURN ($13.00) in the Pan American (G2), ANNEX $4.20) in the Cutler Bay and CRAZY BEAUTIFUL ($6.00) in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), the Pontiff’s followers were visiting the cashier with regularity on Saturday.
Pope Jude Fans Have a Nice Saturday
With 10 winners on the report Pope Jude fans enjoyed Saturday, March 6. San Carlos (G2) winner BRICKYARD RIDE ($12.00) anchored the Santa Anita slate and was followed up by IDOL (12.80) in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) and a $48.40 exacta with runner-up EXPRESS TRAIN. The huge day of Tampa Bay Downs action kicked off with a $108 for 50-cents trifecta combo of WINFROMWITHIN - CREW DRAGON - BOREAS in the Columbia Stakes and a $173.40 exacta payoff with MICHELINE ($11.20) and MORNING MOLLY. Then in the Florida Oaks (G3), DOMAIN EXPERTISE ($12.80) - JOUSTER - OYSTER BOX combined for a $24.60 50-cent tri. At Aqueduct, CHATEAU ($9.60) won the Tom Fool (G3)and combined with WENDELL FONG and SPEED PASS for a $62.25 trifecta for a pair of quarters.
Saturday Spot Plays at Gulfstream Park
(3:13) GP 8th Race - Trainer Danny Gargan has been on fire during the championship meeting, winning at a 40% clip. He sends out #10 AUSTRIAN in this event off of good spacing and a solid turf figure in his latest start. Quinella pals #1 BURN THE BOATS and #2 LIGHT FURY have better post draws and are both coming off wins over this course.
(4:18) GP 10th Race - Hot jockey Luis Saez takes the call on #8 DIRECTOR’S CUT for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse in the Sweetest Chant (G3). She ran her butt off in an allowance race over this course on January 10 and blew out in :46 1/5 on January 24 for today’s event. It’s, “all systems go.”
No Pope Jude Report Saturday, but Check Back Here for Spot Plays
The report had has some winners but a lot of seconditis on Pegasus Day . With the Santa Anita monsoon predicted and dicey weather elsewhere, there will be no Saturday report this week. We’ll post what ever spot plays materialize in this space by Friday afternoon.
NICE BOXING DAY FOR POPE JUDE FANS
Saturday’s Boxing Day report highlighted a plethora of winners. At Gulfstream Park, WHAT’S THE MOVE ($4.40) kicked it off with BROOKES ALL MINE ($8.00), PAYNTDEMBLUESAWAY ($8.40) and COLONEL LIAM ($4.40) also successful. On opening day at Santa Anita, Nyquist colt WIPE THE SLATE ($7.40) thrust himself into the Triple Crown scene, SMOOTH LIKE STRAIT ($3.60) took the Mathis Brothers Mile (G2), CHARLATAN ($5.20) blitzed the deep Runhappy Malibu (G1) field and NASTY ($15.80) grabbed the Lady of Shamrock Stakes in the last and PIXELATE ($5.40) was a prompt winner of the Woodchopper Stakes at Fair Grounds,
PROMISING JUVENILES DEBUT OVER THE WEEKEND
Supersire Into Mischief was represented by debut maiden winner PRATE at Fair Grounds on December 19. The handsome Juddmonte Farms colorbearer cruised to an easy victory under jockey Florent Geroux for trainer Brad Cox. He ran a faster Beyer speed figure than stakes horses on the same card, stopping the clock in 1:09.81 for six furlongs, thrusting himself into the 2021 Triple Crown discussion.
Trainer Todd Pletcher unveiled talented filly, ZAAJEL at Gulfstream Park on December 20. The Shadwell Farm homebred won by just over seven lengths upon debut, running seven furlongs in 1:23.81. A daughter of Street Sense from a Daaher mare showed the ability to rate and should improve as the distances increase. Luis Saez was aboard for the score.
TWO PLETCHER TRAINEES TO KNOW
A $900,000 Keeneland September yearling, two-year-old PRIME FACTOR (Quality Road – Haylie Brae by Bernardini) broke his maiden by nearly nine lengths upon debut, December 12 at Gulfstream Park. Irad Ortiz, Jr. rode the colt owned by China Horse Club and WinStar Farm, who hit many pundits Triple Crown lists before he had galloped back to the winners’ circle.
Late developing three-year-old ARHAM (Union Rags – Sanaaya by Smart Strike) crushed a maiden field by seven lengths at first-asking over the Gulfstream Park main track on December 17. The Shadwell Farm homebred had been training at J.J. Pletcher’s farm prior to being shipped to Hallandale Beach and had shown a distinct amount of professionalism, which carried over into his debut under jockey Luis Saez. He figures to be even better going longer.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 9 * ELLIS PARK - AUDOBON OAKS & ELLIS PARK DERBY ANALYSIS
(5:10) ELP 8th Race - #10 MUNDAYE CALL was a $950,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale purchase, so you know she’s athletic, good-looking and owns a sharp pedigree. The daughter of supersire Into Mischief has acquitted herself well on the racetrack, winning her last two starts by open lengths. We like the ratability she showed in her last start and jockey Florent Geroux should get along famously with the Brad Cox trainee in the Runhappy Audobon Oaks. #4 SCONSIN ran a solid second to Four Graces in the Beaumont (G3) in her latest trip to the gate. trained by Ellis Park stalwart Greg Foley, who is having a tremendous meeting, she’ll be making a late run under hot jockey Jimmy Graham. #2 HELLO BEAUTIFUL has won half of her starts - all in Maryland. She ships to the Pea Patch with excellent speed, a bullet blowout and a trainer who has won 25% of her starts this year. Jockey Julien Leparoux takes the call and the price will be square.
(6:10) ELP 10th Race - Toyota Blue Grass (G2) winner #4 ART COLLECTOR impressed a lot of people at Keeneland. Trained by the highly underrated Thomas Drury, Jr., the son of Bernardini rides a four-race winning streak into the Runhappy Ellis Park Derby and his biggest competitor, #12 SHARED SENSE, was six and a half lengths in his wake in an allowance event at Churchill Downs on June 13. Looks like he’ll be tough to beat once again. The latter, Just won the Indiana Derby (G3) and although some outlets are calling this a class drop for the Brad Cox trainee, we would argue this event is much tougher than that one. The son of Street Sense is fastly improving and another move forward would make him a heads-up foe with the favorite. Jockey Florent Geroux knows him well now. #5 NECKER ISLAND has promised a lot along the way but hasn’t delivered. Recently claimed for a hundred grand, the son of Hard Spun may be better on the turf if they ever run him there, but his last two works have been zippy and maybe new trainer Chris Hartman has figured him out a tad. He’ll be a big number on Sunday.
OAKLAWN & GULFSTREAM SELECTED RACES ON MAY 2 REPORT
Saturday, May 2 - what would be the traditional Kentucky Derby (G1) day, this year features two divisions of the Arkansas Derby (G1) from Oaklawn Park. Gulfstream Park has put together a nifty card with three stakes for racing fans to enjoy. This week’s report features selected races from both tracks. Stay healthy and safe from home and enjoy our sport!
SATURDAY'S FOUR BIG TRIPLE CROWN PREPS
#3 TIZAMAGICIAN has the distinction of running second to Honor A.P., the John Shirreffs-trained colt who we consider a top Kentucky Derby (G1) prospect. Trained by Hall of Famer Richard Mandella, his main competition in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) is probably Bob Baffert trainee #2 THOUSAND WORDS, an undefeated son of Pioneerof the Nile who won the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) in December. Baffert’s other entrant, #5 HIGH VELOCITY also has claims to the top prize and gets Joel Rosario to ride him this afternoon.
The seven-furlong Swale (G3) brings out an interesting field at Gulfstream Park, where rain is in the forecast. #5 SHIVAREE is being trained to sprint and that could serve him well in this field full of Triple Crown aspirants who have bigger fish to fry. The word, “freak,” has been used in conjunction with #2 UNTITLED in backside conversations this week. Now in the care of Mark Casse, the son of Khozan broke his maiden by 11 against Florida-breds in his first start for trainer Ralph Nicks and seems to have a bright future. Regally-bred #1 MISCHIEVOUS ALEX is proven at the distance and should love an off track. Hot-riding Irad Ortiz, Jr. takes the call and that speaks volumes.
Aqueduct’s Withers (G3) is a mile and an eighth. A difference-making distance for a lot of horses, #5 SHOTSKI won the Remsen (G3) at today’s distance, putting that question mark to bed. There are several things to like about the son of Blame, including his sharp speed figures and solid stable. He’ll face off with American Pharoah’s son, #6 PRINCE OF PHAROAHS, from the powerful Linda Rice barn. It looks like he’s ready to take on the extra furlong this afternoon.
The Holy Bull (G3) has been a key race on the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail for many years. #3 TIZ THE LAW was the best juvenile we saw in person last year. The Barclay Tagg trainee has been thoughtfully handled with the goal of the Kentucky Derby (G1) in mind all along and this race should be contested on a fast track. #1 TOLEDO hails from Juddmonte Farms, so we know the quality is present. His flashy pedigree, solid works and glittering trainer combine to make him a solid contender in this spot. Good things come to those who wait and trainer Chad Brown has plenty of patience. #4 ETE INDIAN had early success on the turf, but moved to the main track for his last start and responded with a big win! He must be respected in this field and he may be better than originally considered.