Race of the Week: Pegasus World Cup

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Pegasus-World-Cup-OddsThis week’s USRacing.com Race of the Week is the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes. And while this year’s $16 million Gulfstream Park feature may lack the luster of last year’s inaugural event, which featured a Breeders’ Cup Class rematch between the reigning Horse of the Year Arrogate and California Chrome, who was making the final start of his storied career, it still drew some great entrants.

In fact, I would argue that, in terms of depth, this year’s field is far better than the field that was assembled on Jan. 28, 2017. Last year, there were four Grade I winners in the field — the aforementioned Arrogate and California Chrome, along with Keen Ice and Shaman Ghost. (Eragon was also a Grade I winner, but in Argentina, where the competition is considerably softer.) This year, there are a half dozen Grade I champions entered, including two horses (Stellar Wind and Gun Runner) that have accounted for 11 Grade I victories between them.

Below is a horse-by-horse look at the field:

1-SINGING BULLET (30/1)
In a race featuring 11 graded stakes winners, this guy simply looks outclassed. He’s zip-for-3 in his stakes appearances and his speed figures leave a lot to be desired.

Fair Odds: 99-1 

2-WEST COAST (8/1)
Bob Baffert trainee was just named Champion 3-Year-Old Male and, on Saturday, seeks to resume his winning ways after a 5-race win skein was halted in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. What really intrigues me about this guy is the age factor. In a 2010 study for the Journal of Equine Science, Dr. Marshall Gramm, an economics professor at Rhodes College and NHC qualifier, found that thoroughbreds tend to peak at 4.45 years of age and that the improvement from the age of two until that time is about 15 lengths in routes.

Using some very simple math, this equates to about a half-length a month, which means that, in the 84 days since the Classic, West Coast has potentially improved by about 1 ½ lengths simply through age and maturation. Considering that he lost by just 3 ½ lengths to Gun Runner and 1 ¼ lengths to Collected at Del Mar — and both those horses are 4.8 years old and (possibly) on the downside of their careers — grabs my attention. Some stellar workouts add to the intrigue.

Fair Odds: 7-2 

3-STELLAR WIND (30/1)
Call me crazy, but I love this spot for Stellar Wind at this point in her career. Yeah, she finished dead last in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff last time and she’s started just four times over the past year, but what has she got to lose? Her best makes her a contender.

Fair Odds: 20-1 

4-SHARP AZTECA (6/1)
Believe it or not, this guy has the best overall late speed rations (LSRs) and he’s quick enough to get the lead early if he wants it — which is a big “if”. Last time, the son of Freud stalked the pace in the Cigar Mile and recorded the best Beyer speed figure of his career (115) in a 5 ¼-length win, so employing a similar strategy on Saturday might make sense.

Fair Odds: 8-1 

5-COLLECTED (8/1)
There’s an old saying that “pace makes the race” and nowhere was that more evident than in the San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 26 when Collected rated off a slug-slow pace (+3 early speed ration) and failed to fire as the prohibitive 1-5 favorite. Of course, all the naysayers came out in force after the race, claiming that it showed the son of City Zip was nothing more than a glorified sprinter (never mind that $1.6 million of his $2.3 million in career earnings came from his two tries at 1 ¼ miles).

I have little doubt that Collected will be ready to roll this weekend, but I am concerned by the fact that’s he’s never passed horses — or even a single horse — in the stretch in any of his races. So, to win, he’ll need to be leading at the eighth pole.

Fair Odds: 4-1 

6-GUNNEVERA (15/1)
I loved this guy in the Travers and he ran a bang-up second at 24-1. I would’ve liked to have seen a prep for this race, though, as trainer Antonio Sano is just 1-for-20 off a layoff of 60 days or greater in races offering a $50,000 purse or better. 

Fair Odds: 20-1 

Latest-Odds

7-FEAR THE COWBOY (30/1)
Recorded a career-best 105 BSF last time and is 4-of-6, with a second and a third over the Gulfstream Park oval. In most races, I’d give this guy a long look, but I just thing he’s in too tough on Saturday. 

Fair Odds: 25-1 

8-WAR STORY (25/1)
He’s never hit the board in nine Grade I tries, although he’s finished fourth four times. Simply put, he doesn’t look good enough to win, but, of course, there’s always the superfecta. 

Fair Odds: 50-1 

9-TOAST OF NEW YORK (20/1)
This guy was just a nose behind Bayern in the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Classic before a tendon injury forced him to the sidelines and a three-year, largely unsuccessful, career at stud. Following a prep over the all-weather surface at Lingfield — 1 ¼ miles clocked in 2:04.01 — on Dec. 6, the 7-year-old is back in the United States.

On the plus side, his connections seem genuinely enthusiastic about this dude’s prospects. On the negative side, his 106 Racing Post Rating last time is a far cry from the 130 earned by Gun Runner in the 2017 BC Classic or the 126 recorded by Collected or the 123 garnered by West Coast or the 122… well, you get the picture. 

Fair Odds: 25-1 

10-GUN RUNNER (4/5)
He’s got the best overall speed figures, tactical speed and strong pace figures, but there’s one number I hate — his morning line odds. Look, this is another one of those cases where finding the best horse — at least the best horse as of a few months ago — is easy.  Gun Runner had a stellar campaign in 2017, with five wins from six starts and the title of Horse of the Year (as of yesterday), and there’s no reason to believe he’ll be any less brilliant on Saturday.

But there are reasons to believe he can be beaten.

To begin with, like Collected, this guy is not fond of passing horses in the stretch. In fact, he hasn’t done it since the first two races of his career when he was facing much easier company. Coupled with the fact that he’ll be breaking from the 10-post this weekend makes me think the trip he gets in the Pegasus could be less than ideal — which was not the case in the Breeders’ Cup Classic or any of his other races last year, for that matter.

True, great horses typically get great trips thanks to their versatility — and Gun Runner is no exception. The -9 ESR that he recorded in the Classic was the fastest since a -10 in the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and, ultimately, that is what allowed Steve Asmussen’s stable star to cruise to victory.

The problem is an equal show of speed might not be enough to clear the field on Saturday. I’ve got to think that Mike Smith aboard Collected doesn’t want to get second-guessed again, not to mention the jocks on West Coast, Stellar Wind and Sharp Azteca. In short, there are a lot of speedy horses for Gun Runner to cross in front of entering the first turn — and a short time to do it (see track diagram).

This leads me to believe that the reigning Horse of the Year will likely stalk from the outside before making his move late. And in a sport where the blink of an eye can be the difference between victory and defeat, I’m inclined to play against the champ on Saturday.

Fair Odds: 2-1 

11-SEEKING THE SOUL (25/1)
He’s in the best form of his life and can motor home late. If you’re looking for a horse at a huge price that can win, I think this is the guy!

Fair Odds: 15-1 

12-GIANT EXPECTATIONS (30/1)
I felt this son of Frost Giant was a lot better than advertised last time, but that doesn’t change the fact that he got everything his own way in the San Antonio. That is highly unlikely on Saturday, especially given his disastrous post draw. Even at a big price, he looks like an underlay to me.

Fair Odds: 50-1

Also-Eligible: 

13-GIUSEPPE THE GREAT (30-1) 

Fair Odds: 30-1

14-GAME OVER (30-1)

Fair Odds: 99-1

Selections: 2-5-10-11   

***

Race of the Week: Sunshine Millions Turf

By Derek Simon
Originally posted on January 19, 2018

Well, last Saturday, my Race of the Week selection finished fourth, never threatening to claim the top prize at 24-1, while Instilled Regard, a horse I thought would be an underlay, was — but he won the Lecomte Stakes anyway and paid $6.60.

This week, we travel to Hallandale, Florida and beautiful Gulfstream Park for the Race of the Week — the Sunshine Millions’ Turf.

Conceived, in part, by Frank Stronach, the Sunshine Millions was designed to be a mini-Breeders’ Cup of sorts. Featuring races comprised of Florida-breds and California-breds, the series met with initial success and boasted several notable winners in the early years. Recently, however, purses have dropped and interest has waned.

In 2014, multiple Grade I winner and Breeders’ Cup Classic champion Mucho Macho Man won the Sunshine Millions’ Classic for the second time; last year a horse named Hy Riverside won. So far in his career, Hy Riverside has won five of 24 starts and has yet to finish in the money in a graded stakes.

Still, that doesn’t mean the Sunshine Millions isn’t fun to bet and this year’s Turf event looks especially contentious. Below is a look at the filed:

1-Our Way (3-1 morning line odds)
Last year’s winner returns from a break of over five months for trainer Bond — Harold James — who sports a 77-percent ROI with horses returning off a layoff of 90+ days. This guy can stalk what figures to be a slow pace and is a deserving favorite.

Fair Odds: 7/2

2-Charlie Mops (10-1)
This dude was just claimed by trainer Peter Walder, who has accumulated a 10-percent ROI with his past 115 last-out claims, for $35K. I love the front-running style and Charlie’s late speed rations (LSRs) are solid as well; however, I am concerned about the 7-year-old gelding’s long absence from the winner’s circle. After winning five of his first eight starts (with a couple of seconds, one via DQ), Mr. Mops hasn’t posed for pictures after a race since Aug. 6, 2016.

That said, Walder 24.3-percent lifetime winning rate dwarfs the 11.8-percent rate of former conditioner Gary Jackson. And here’s where it gets really interesting: On Dec. 21, 2014, Walder claimed a horse name named Sr. Quisqueyano for Loooch Racing Stables Inc. (the new owner of Charlie Mops). A little over a month later, the gelding won the Sunshine Millions Classic — at over 20-1! What’s more, over the past five years, Walder is 6-of-14 with new claims adding blinkers — which is the case this weekend.

Fair Odds: 6/1

3-Spring Up (8-1)
His last race at Gulfstream Park was uninspiring, but this guy loves to win and fits very well from a speed and pace figure perspective. Plus, he’s 4-of-7 on the green at Gulfstream.

Fair Odds: 8/1

4-Manchurian High (12-1)
Ten-year-old gelding won this event in 2016, but was last seen jumping over hurdles at Charleston. Trainer and part-owner Lilli Kurtinecz has done a good job with the son of The Daddy, but I’d need to see a big price to put this guy on top.

Fair Odds: 30/1 

5-Galleon Mast (7-2)
Son of Mizzen Mast has finished in the money in all 12 of his starts at Gulfstream Park, including — count ‘em — 5 wins! He should be in the second flight and has a big chance on Saturday, following a sizzling five-panel drill for this race on Jan. 13.

Fair Odds: 3/1 

6-Enterprising (2-1)
He’s easily the class of the field, having been beaten by less than a length in the Grade I Arlington Million on Aug. 12. He also bested both Galleon Mast and Charlie Mops in the Millions Turf Preview on Nov. 11. My issues with the Michael Maker trainee boil down to two things: pace and value. While he’s shown that he can win despite slow splits — the early speed ration (ESR) in the Millions Preview was a +1 — his late-closing style is hardly ideal in a paceless affair and especially as the 2-1 (and likely lower) favorite.

Fair Odds: 3/1 

7-Second Mate (10-1)
Jane Cibelli trainee ran very well despite dawdling fractions in his latest. This is a tall order, but I think he’s good enough for a piece with the right trip.

Fair Odds: 8/1 

8-Swagger Jagger (15/1)
Very interesting that trainer Michael Maker sees fit to claim this horse for $35K immediately after losing him for $20K, particularly since the son of Crown of Thorns earned a race-best +5 LSR last time. My issue with this guy — and it’s a big one — is that he doesn’t seem keen on passing horses late. In fact, in his last six starts, he has lost position from the 1/8-pole to the finish five times.

In short, I love his numbers, but not sure I trust his heart.

Fair Odds: 12/1 

Selections: 2-5-1

***

Race of the Week: LeComte Stakes

By Derek Simon
Originally posted on January 12, 2018

Well, McKinzie got me back in the win column in last Saturday’s Race of the Week, the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita Park. Unfortunately, his $2.40 win payoff left me a few cents short of a gallon of gas, so I’ve been hitchiking a lot recently.

And after my last ride, with a guy sporting an eye patch… that he wore in lieu of pants, I’m pretty anxious to start driving again.

To win some gas money — and maybe a healthy service-station hot dog for the road — we’re going to the Fair Grounds in Louisiana, where this weekend’s Race of the Week in the Grade III LeComte Stakes, the first Kentucky Derby prep for the Midwestern hopefuls.

1-Lone Sailor

Comments: Repeat after me, “Late-running horses with poor late speed rations (LSRs) are among the worst bets in racing.” This has been a constant refrain of mine and certainly applies to Lone Sailor. On the plus side, the son of Majestic Warrior dons blinkers for the first time and gets Miguel Mena, who has a 25-percent win rate for trainer Thomas Amoss over the past year, in the saddle.

2-Snapper Sinclair

Comments: Tries dirt for the first time, though he’s probably a little better-suited to turf. That said, I love the Dec. 24 workout and he has the top Class Rating in the field, according to my Pace Profile Report.

3-Wonder Gadot

Comments: Mark Casse filly takes on the boys for the first time in her five-race career and her pace numbers make her very interesting indeed. Ignore that overall LSR rank — she’s only had two races on a dirt surface and one was against the best juvenile fillies in the country, which resulted in a troubled trip — and concentrate, instead, on the +1 LSR she earned last time. That’s the best dirt LSR in the field!

On the negative side of the ledger is the fact that this gal has a frontrunning style, yet  has earned early speed rations (ESRs) that place her in mid-pack.

4-Analyze This Jet

Comments: It took this dude six starts to break his maiden, but, when he did, he did so in style, drawing clear by 6 ¼ lengths and recording a -6 ESR and -5 LSR at Remington Park on Oct. 4. He followed that victory up with an impressive score in the ungraded El Joven Stakes at Retama 10 days later. The problem is he doesn’t have a lot of zip and Saturday’s race is a big step up in class.

5-Kowboy Karma

Comments: Son of Kodiak Kowboy — who’d a thunk it? — is interesting, based on his -3 LSR last time and a troubled trip in the Champagne, but I hate those 6-1 morning line odds.

6-Believe In Royalty

Comments: After an inexplicably poor effort in the ungraded Springboard Mile at Remington Park, where he made a wide bid and collapsed (figuratively speaking), this Larry Jones trainee came back to work five furlongs in 59 3/5 seconds two weeks later, on Dec. 31, and followed that with another strong work on Jan. 7.

Jones has won this race three times previously — most recently with Mr. Bowling in 2012 — and I expect Believe In Royalty to give a much better account of himself than he did last time.

7-Night Strike

Comments: After five unsuccessful attempts versus straight maidens, William Bret Calhoun trainee finally got off the schneid in a stakes race restricted to Oklahoma-breds, where he was made the 7-5 favorite (which should tell you a little bit about the strength of the field). He’s not one I’ll be concentrating on.

8-Zing Zang

Comments: If you’re looking for a good longshot, this could be the guy. With Saturday’s pace expected to be strong — a projected ESR of -9 — this late-running son of Tapit intrigues me, especially since he’s improved his Brisnet Speed Figure (BSF) in every start — by 12 points each time, no less.

Yeah, he’s still got a long ways to go, but trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey Shaun Bridgmohan teamed up to win this race in 2008 with Z Fortune.

9-Zeke

Comments: LSRs are great, connections are great, speed figures… uh, they’re not so great. Look, horses with good late pace figures traditionally do well at Fair Grounds, so I don’t think guy can be tossed completely, but I’d insist on a good price.

10-Instilled Regard

Comments: This guy was certainly flattered my McKinzie in last Saturday’s Race of the Week, but the huge speed figure jump from his penultimate start to last time has me a little nervous — especially since his LSR in the Los Alamitos (Cash Call) Futurity was only OK.

Jerry Hollendorfer trainee has the look of an underlay to me.

11-Ciaran

Comments: In 1983, David Copperfield made the Statue of Liberty disappear on live television. That’s nothing compared to what trainer Thomas Morley is attempting to do in the LeComte — mainly win a graded stakes with a horse possessing poor ESRs, poor LSRs and poor speed ratings.

I think even Al Michaels would pass on this guy.

12-Principe Guilherme

Comments: He’s a deserving favorite, having won his first two starts by a combined 18 lengths. However, he went wire-to-wire in each of those wins and is probably going to have to run at least six lengths faster early if he wants to employ the same strategy on Saturday.

From a value standpoint, it’s an easy call.  At his morning line odds or less, the Steve Asmussen trainee isn’t worth the risk. However, much depends on what the other speedsters — most notably Prince Lucky and Ebben — do. The former has been showing speed in sprints, which would lead one to believe that he will be forwardly placed this weekend, but his rider, Julien Leperoux, isn’t exactly known as a “gate jockey” and could elect to take the son of Corinthian back. Ditto Ebben, which could lead to Principe Guilherme on the engine in soft fractions again – and I think we all know how that scenario is likely to play out.

13-Prince Lucky

Comments: Based on pace figures, this guy will be leading — or pressing an honest pace — into the first turn, but it’s hard to say what the tactics will ultimately be. Larry Jones trainee clearly has talent, but that -22 LSR last time has me looking elsewhere.

14-Ebben

Comments: He’s bred to be a sprinter, but his last race — a one-mile affair at Churchill Downs — was sensational. I think he’s got better than a puncher’s chance.

15-Trigger Warning

Comments: Also-eligible could be a pace factor, but his LSRs don’t instill confidence.

My Selections: 8-3-12-6

***

Race of the Week: Sham Stakes

By Derek Simon
Originally posted on January 5, 2018

All good things come to an end. After selecting the winner of US Racing’s Race of the Week three weeks in a row, my latest attempt — in last weekend’s American Oaks at Santa Anita Park — ended not with a bang, but with a whimper.

A big whimper.

After my top selection (Rymska) was scratched, I was left with Desert Duchess, who I felt needed the lead and a good trip to win. She got neither. Instead, jockey Drayden Van Dyke opted for a wide, off-the-pace run — I will never understand why so many riders go with this strategy on confirmed frontrunners — that resulted in a last-place finish.

To be a successful gambler, however, one must learn to quickly shake off disappointments and, as Andy Beyer was fond of saying, look for that “fastball down the middle of the plate.”

So, let’s take a look at Saturday’s Sham Stakes — again, at Santa Anita — and see if that fastball is looming:

MyBoyJack

Comments: Trainer Keith Desormeaux and his younger brother, Kent, team up for the first — but surely not last — time in a 2018 Kentucky Derby prep. Over the past year, the siblings have won 18 percent of their 111 pairings and are, perhaps, best known — at least as a duo — for their work with Exaggerator, who won the Preakness Stakes after finishing second behind Nyquist in the 2015 Run for the Roses.

Unfortunately, My Boy Jack is no Exaggerator. His debut on the dirt was uninspiring and it doesn’t buoy my confidence to see that, after getting beaten soundly in that main-track affair at 18-1, he was made just 6-1 when he tried turf and stretched out on July 1.

On the plus side, his bid-and-hang effort in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf was encouraging and I don’t ultimately believe that the son of Creative Cause prefers the green.

HereIsHappy

Comments: If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times — closers with poor late speed rations (LSRs) are among the worst bets in racing. Granted, there is one major caveat here in that trainer Craig Lewis puts blinkers on this guy after four consecutive poor starts. Still, I would have liked to have seen a good workout — something, anything — to make me believe the son of Tale of Ekati will turn things around this weekend.

AllOutBlitz

Comments: Love the improvement in the races and on the training track, including a four-furlong drill in 47 seconds flat on Dec. 29. My only issue is, although there is stamina on the dam side, this colt has recorded mediocre LSRs at best and is trying a route of ground for the first time.

Still, he’s a strong contender.

Mourinho

Comments: This dude is an enigma wrapped in a riddle, but the one thing I know is that he’s fast — very fast. The Bob Baffert trainee earned a -16 early speed ration (ESR) in the Speakeasy Stakes at six furlongs on Oct. 15 and a -11 ESR in his maiden special weight debut 15 days earlier.

Yet, after trying and failing to get the son of Super Saver to rate in the Grade III Bob Hope at seven panels in his last start, it appears that Baffert has decided to throw caution to the wind on Saturday and let Mourinho do what he does best — run as fast as he can for as far as he can. The blinkers are back on (they were removed for the Bob Hope) and, assuming jockey Van Dyke isn’t intent on taking the scenic route again (see above), I expect this guy to be on the engine in the Sham.

He’s got the talent to win. On Saturday, we’ll see if he has the heart… or the oxygen.

Shivermetimbers

Comments: He’s improved in every start and, in his last race, recorded superior pace figures — including a positive Pace Profile. True, the son of Shanghai Bobby was beaten by the morning line favorite, McKinzie, on Oct. 28, but, at this age, horses often improve my leaps and bounds and it should be pointed out that McKinzie was a February foal, while Shivermetimbers was born in April.

McKinzie

Comments: Son of Street Sense was lucky to have won the CashCall Futurity — the very first US Racing Race of the Week — via disqualification, but, despite claims to the contrary by my brethren in the racing media, it was still a great race and a superb effort by trainer Baffert’s top Kentucky Derby hopeful.

Not only did McKinzie equal the outstanding 100 Brisnet Speed Figure he earned in his lifetime bow — over the past 26 years, 24 Derby winners earned at least one triple-digit BSF prior to the first Saturday in May — he improved both his debut ESR and debut LSR as well.

What really intrigues me, though, is that Baffert removes the blinkers today — presumably, to give them to Mourinho. All kidding aside, it’s a fascinating move and seems to indicate that Baffert wants McKinzie to relax a bit more. This idea is bolstered by the fact that, in his last work on Jan. 2, McKinzie went four furlongs in a very moderate — for said horse and trainer — 48 2/5 seconds.

CityPlan

Comments: Talk about the Rodney Dangerfield of racing. This guy has won two of his four starts — at odds of 19-1 and 24-1. Of course, both those wins followed truly dreadful outings, but still. I’m particularly impressed by City Plan’s latest victory, where he came from the back of the pack to earn an 83 BSF and race-best 0 LSR.

My Selections: 6-7-4-3  

***

Race of the Week: American Oaks

By Derek Simon
Originally posted on December 29, 2017

OK, so now the pressure is really on. Since our sponsor launched the Race of the Week promotion on Dec. 9 (you can get all the details here), I’ve selected the winner each week, starting with a lucky score on McKinzie ($3.00) in the CashCall Futurity and followed by Fear the Cowboy ($9.00) in the Harlan’s Holiday and Do Share ($10.80) in the Gravesend Stakes last Saturday.

This Saturday the big event is the American Oaks at Santa Anita Park and, I must say, the race looks wide open. Here’s a detailed look at the field:

1-MADAM DANCEALOT (6-1 morning line odds)
I’ve mentioned my aversion to late-running horses with weak late speed rations in the past and this gal kinda-sorta fits the bill. Her LSRs are not bad — in fact, they’re quite good — but they don’t stack up against her rivals’ in Saturday’s field.

Fair Odds: 10-1 

2-KATHY’S SONG (20-1)
She’s similar to Madam Dancealot in that her LSRs are simply not up to par. In fact, her numbers are quite poor relative to this field. This is partially offset by a really good effort last time, but I’d still insist on a big price should you decide to use her.

Fair Odds: 20-1 

3-BERNINA STAR (30-1)
Her two turf tries have come against inferior competition and have produced subpar speed and pace figures. She’s hard to recommend.

Fair Odds: 40-1 

4-DADDY’S LIL DARLING (3-1)
It’s hard to believe that this filly has a single graded victory to her credit, as she’s finished second in — count ‘em — four Grade I events, including one on the green. Her LSRs are great and she’s already won at Saturday’s extended distance (she captured the 1 5/16-mile Dueling Grounds Oaks at Kentucky Downs in September).

The big question mark with her is desire. After a huge effort in the Grade I Queen Elizabeth II at Keeneland (one of the most prestigious turf races for fillies and mares in the country), I thought her performance in the Grade II Mrs. Revere was disappointing, even though a slow pace and wide trip surely didn’t help.

Fair Odds: 7-2 

5-PANTSONFIRE (30-1)
Took a giant step forward in her latest, with a strong runner-up performance in an optional claiming event at Del Mar, but this is a really big jump in class. I think the Richard Baltas trainee can be used underneath, but I’d need a massive price to consider her on top.

Fair Odds: 30-1 

6-BEAU RECALL (6-1)
She missed being a Grade I winner by a mere nose at Del Mar in August and, subsequently, had trouble early in the QEII. Her LSRs are OK, but I’m a little concerned about Saturday’s 1 ¼-mile distance. Beau Recall is an Irish-bred (typically known for their stamina), yet her sire’s progeny have an average winning distance (AWD) of just 6.8 furlongs.

Fair Odds: 9-2

7-DESERT DUCHESS (8-1)
Daughter of Hard Spun is the most intriguing entrant in the race, as she’s the likely pacesetter in a relatively paceless race. She was racing for a tag in May, so class is obviously an issue, but I was awfully impressed by the way she was able to raise her game in her stakes debut on Nov. 7.

On that day, she raced wide throughout, yet rated beautifully and motored past the leaders in the stretch. She’s had a series of good works since and jockey Drayden Van Dyke wins at a 15-percent clip with an 8.5-percent ROI with early/presser types.

Fair Odds: 6-1 

8-RYMSKA (5-2)
Her performance in the Winter Memories last time was outstanding, earning a competitive 90 Brisnet Speed Figure and a ridiculously good — especially considering the slow pace — +7 LSR. She is clearly talented and is bred to love Saturday’s 10-furlong distance, but there’s a problem… 5-2 odds? Really?

Trainer Chad Brown’s runner is a two-time Grade 3 winner and has earned $359,352. Meanwhile, Brown’s “other” entrant, New Money Honey, is a two-time Grade 3 winner and a two-time Grade 1 winner and has banked over $1.3 million. I love the horse, but hate the price.

Fair Odds: 3-1 

9-NEW MONEY HONEY (7-2)
Clearly the most accomplished horse in the field, as I outlined above. The problem with this gal is that I’m not sure where she stands physically. It’s easy enough to put a line through her effort in the Alabama — that was her first (and probably only) try on dirt — but what about that dud in the QEII?

It’s also hard not to notice that the daughter of Medaglia d’Oro has started just three times since July. On a lark, I ran my Workout Report for this race and also for her last winning effort in the Belmont Oaks. Here’s what I found:

NewMoneyHoneyWO

Notice the big difference between New Money Honey’s latest work on Dec. 24 and the one on June 3 (the higher the percentage, the better the workout, at least statistically speaking). Coupled with that dull performance last out and her overall lack of activity, I’d be hard pressed to take a short price on New Money Honey, despite the fact that she is — or was — the best horse in the race.

Fair Odds: 4-1 

10-COACHWHIP (20-1)
Her lack of experience concerns me, though I love the fact that trainer Richard Mandella is showing the confidence to enter this gal in a Grade 1 affair.

Fair Odds: 20-1 

My Selections: 8-7-6 

Betting Suggestion: I would let the odds be a guide in this race. Look for horses going to post at odds greater than the fair odds I’ve listed.

***

Race of the Week: Gravesend Stakes

By Derek Simon
Originally posted on December 22, 2017

So far, so good with my Race of the Week selections, as Fear the Cowboy rallied to win the Harlan’s Holiday last Saturday and move my record to a perfect 2-0.

This week, we move from sunny Florida — it was 78 degrees for the Harlan’s Holiday — to cold and likely rainy Ozone Park in Queens, New York, for the Gravesend Stakes at Aqueduct.

The $100,000 Gravesend drew a field of eight older horses set to travel six panels over the main track at the Big A. And although Threefiveindia, who was last seen finishing second in the Fall Highweight while carrying 130 lbs. (he’s slated to tote a mere 116 this weekend), has been made the 2-1 morning line favorite, I have my eye on some more enticing prices.

Let’s take a look at the field…

TheTruthOrElse

COMMENTS: This is the kind of horse that I hate — a deep closer with subpar late speed rations (LSRs). He has run well against better in the past, but he’ll need to turn things around in a big way to have an impact here.

DoShare

COMMENTS: For the second week in the row, we have a classic example of a horse that may not be the fastest in the race overall, but is currently the fastest. While some may fret about the quick turnaround (nine days), this is a horse that is 3-for-4 on three weeks’ rest or less, including a win in the Stud Muffin after an impressive allowance score that earned the 4-year-old gelding a 100 Brisnet Speed Figure, matching today’s par.

LifeInShambles

COMMENTS: Steve Asmussen trainee has a great closing kick, as evidenced by his LSR Rank of 1+ (above). What’s more, the son of Broken Vow has finished fourth or better in 11 of his past 12 dirt starts, including a strong showing in this race last year, in which he was beaten just a neck and a head for second-place. He’s a major player at what promises to be a square price.

ChiefLion

COMMENTS: This guy is a key contender. To begin with, he looks like the speed of the speed — the only horse capable of outrunning Green Gratto early. Secondly, there is the David Jacobson factor. Jacobson horses owned in partnership with others have won at a 12.6-percent clip this year, whereas horses owned solely by Jacobson, like Chief Lion, have scored at double that rate (25.3 percent). The 7-year-old gelding was Grade 2-placed as recently as July of last year and is a huge threat on Saturday, especially with Martin Garcia retaining the mount following an impressive wire-to-wire score at Penn National on Nov. 22.

GoldForTheKing

COMMENTS: Son of Posse is 3-for-4 with one second-place finish at Aqueduct. In those races, he earned Brisnet Speed Figures of 95, 100, 104 and 95. As noted previously, today’s par is 100. In other words, there is no way this dude should be 15-1 on the morning line and I expect a strong showing on Saturday.

GreatStuff

COMMENTS: Four of his last six Brisnet Speed Figures meet or exceed Saturday’s par, but there are some red flags too. To start with, there is, once again, the Jacobson factor. But, this time, it is somewhat negative, as Great Stuff is owned by both Jacobson and Bruce Golden Racing (see Chief Lion above). Then there is that trouble line in the Fall Highweight; saying that the son of Quality Road “checked” in that race is dubious at best. Yes, there was a momentary pause in race riding as Threefiveindia (who is also in Saturday’s race) came over a little, but at no point did Great Stuff look like a winner and, in fact, he’d enjoyed a dream trip up until that time. He’s a definite contender… but I won’t use him at anything close to 7-2 (his morning line odds).

Threefiveindia

COMMENTS: He’s among the most accomplished runners in the field, having placed in all three of his Grade 3 tries, but there’s nothing compelling about him — nothing that screams “bet me!” He’s classy enough, fast enough and — at least based on the morning line — doggone it, people like him. But he just doesn’t get my pulse racing (not as the race favorite, anyway).

GreenGratto

COMMENTS: He’s clearly the classiest horse in the race, with Grade 1 and Grade 3 scores to his credit, but this guy knows only one way to win — on the lead in moderate fractions. And as long as Chief Lion is in this race, I don’t think that scenario plays out.

My Selections: 2-4-3

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Race of the Week: Harlan’s Holiday

By Derek Simon
Originally posted on December 15, 2017

Well, thanks to a dubious disqualification in last Saturday’s CashCall Futurity, the horse that I liked won the inaugural Race of the Week.

This Saturday, the handicapping waters get deeper, as the Race of the Week is the Grade 3 Harlan’s Holiday at Gulfstream Park, which drew an evenly matched field of 9.

USR-Race-of-the-Week

Let’s take a look at the entrants:

1-RICHARD THE GREAT (10/1 morning line odds)
This once-promising son of Distorted Humor clearly has some issues, as he was away from the track for over two years prior to his reappearance at Gulfstream Park on April 23, 2017. His presence in this race is interesting for two reasons:

  • Although there are numerous other frontrunning types in the field, the projected pace for the Harlan’s Holiday is slow (-2 early speed ration) and this dude is 3-for-4 lifetime when he’s had the lead at the half-mile call.

In fact, the last time the Stanley Gold trainee led after recording a soft ESR, he put in arguably the best performance of his career, winning the 7-furlong Trinniberg Handicap by 7 ½ lengths on Aug. 12.

Richard-the-Great-PPs

  • The fact that noted “gate rider” Paco Lopez — four of his 11 graded stakes scores this year have come in wire-to-wire fashion — takes the mount, leads me to believe that this 5-year-old gelding will be a pace factor if nothing else. And that has implications for a number of other contenders in Saturday’s race.

Fair Odds: 10-1 

2-MR. JORDAN (4/1)
Speaking of those implications, I think this guy could be one of the causalities of a more aggressive Richard the Great. Last time, in the Millions Classic Preview Stakes, this son of Kantharos was allowed to set a slow pace (-1 ESR) — and he drew clear to win easily. I don’t envision the same kind of trip today and, though I think Mr. Jordan can still win coming off the pace, I’d insist on a good price.

Fair Odds: 5-1 

3-DESTIN (5/2)
Todd Pletcher trainee appears to like longer distances — he was beaten a nose in the 1 ½-mile Belmont Stakes (G1) as a 3-year-old and recently won the Marathon Stakes (G2) at 1 ¾ miles — but has a clear class edge against these. The son of Giant’s Causeway is a three-time graded stakes winner, with a couple of Grade II tallies to his credit. The only other Grade II winner in Saturday’s field is Flatlined and that came in the Ft. Lauderdale on the green.

Fair Odds: 7-2 

4-CONQUEST BIG E (15/1)
This is another one that is likely to be impacted by the tactics of the rail horse. Unlike Mr. Jordan, though, this guy appears to need the lead to show his best. Couple that with the fact that he’s not very fast and you have the recipe for an underlay, despite the fact that he figures to be long odds this weekend.

Fair Odds: 20-1 

5-PAGE MCKENNEY (6/1)
This guy is the poster child for patience. Since breaking his maiden in start number 13, Page McKenney has been a win machine, capturing half of his 40 starts, including 10 of 16 in his birth state of Pennsylvania.

That said, his last race was dull and he’ll need to turn things around to be a factor on Saturday.

Fair Odds: 9-2 

6-FRAMMENTO (20/1)
Hard to believe that this Nick Zito trainee was once a Kentucky Derby contender — if a third-place finish in the Fountain of Youth (G2) and a distant fourth-place showing in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) qualifies. His last win came nearly a year ago in an optional claiming event that produced subpar speed and pace figures. If he wins, he’ll do so without my money.

Fair Odds: 30-1 

7-FEAR THE COWBOY (7/2)
A while back, I discussed time-adjusted speed ratings, or TASRs for short, and this guy illustrates the concept beautifully. He may not be the fastest horse in the field, overall, but his recent figures — particularly his last one — make him a big-time contender in Saturday’s 1 1/16-mile contest. And it doesn’t hurt that he’s won three of five starts over the Gulfstream Park oval and boasts solid late speed rations to boot.

Fair Odds: 3-1 

8-FLATLINED (6/1)
He won his only race on dirt in a one-mile event that was originally carded for the turf course at Ellis Park on July 30, 2016. The bad news is he did so while rating on a slow pace (-1 ESR) against just three rivals. From a speed and class standpoint, he fits… but I’m not sure how his late-closing style will play if the expected slow pace develops on Saturday.

On the plus side, Flatlined’s recent workouts have been sensational.

Fair Odds: 6-1 

9-JOSHUA’S COMPRISE (30/1)
No one can accuse trainer Barry Rose of being a glass-half-empty kind of guy. This gelding is 3-of-73 lifetime and last won a $12,500 claiming event — at 14-1, no less — in July. So, yeah, put him in a Grade III. Hey, it’s the season of miracles; maybe one can happen for Rose.

Fair Odds: 50-1 

My Selections: 7-8-1

The Harlan’s Holiday is the ninth race on Gulfstream Park’s Saturday card, with an approximate post time of 4:06 p.m. ET.

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Race of the Week: CashCall Futurity

By Derek Simon
Originally posted on December 8, 2017

Starting this week and continuing every Saturday, our sponsor is featuring a “Race of the Week”. Participants who wager at least $10 to win on the designated race will receive $10 in free casino chips — regardless of whether their wager wins or loses.

This week’s Race of the Week is the CashCall Futurity, a Grade I event for two-year-olds run annually at Los Alamitos Racecourse (since 2014) and the now-defunct Hollywood Park (1981-2013). Although the CashCall has only produced one Kentucky Derby champ in its 36-year history — Real Quiet in 1998 — the race boasts an impressive roster of winners, including five colts that were named American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse the next year.

It’s also worth noting that two recent winners — Shared Belief (2014) and Mastery (last year)—were in the midst of stellar campaigns when they were injured. Mastery finished his career a perfect 5-for-5, while Shared Belief won 10 of his 12 lifetime starts.

This year, a field of five will face the starter and it’s fitting that Bob Baffert trains the top two morning line choices, as he’s won this race nine times, including all three that have been run at Los Alamitos.

CashCall Futurity Fun Facts (since 2007) 

  • The post-time favorite has won 8 times (80%).
  • 7 winners (70%) were among the top three at the first call (opening half-mile).
  • No winner has come from more than 2 ½ lengths back at the first call.
  • Trainer Bob Baffert has won 6 times (60%), including the last three in a row.
  • No horse has gone wire to wire. 

Here’s a look at the field:

CashCall-Futurity-Odds1-INSTILLED REGARD (4/1 morning line odds)
Highly regarded Jerry Hollendorfer trainee broke his maiden by 4 ¼ lengths last time, but he did so after setting a soft pace (-3 early speed ration) — a highly unlikely scenario on Saturday (the ESR par is -10). I also don’t like the fact that regular jockey Mike Smith bails on the son of Arch; yeah, it’s to ride one of the Baffert runners, but still…

Fair Odds: 12-1

2-FOR HIM (15/1)
The last horse to go wire-to-wire in the CashCall was Stormello in 2006 (although he was briefly headed by the runner-up, Liquidity, in deep stretch) when the race was still being run at Hollywood Park. Yet, by the looks of it, that’s what this guy will attempt to do this weekend. He’s had clear early leads in each of his last two starts and recorded an insane -17 ESR in his maiden-breaker at Del Mar on Aug. 9.

I actually think he has a great shot of holding on for a piece of the purse, as his last race — in the Zuma Beach on the grass — was very encouraging. He’s also the son of 2012 CashCall champion Violence.

Fair Odds: 10-1 

3-SOLOMINI (7/5)
Bob Baffert trainee was second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and has earned speed figures that dwarf all but those turned in by the other Baffert entrant, McKinzie. The son of Curlin has lost ground down the stretch in both of his route tries and his late speed rations in those races were nothing special (-8 and -13), but wide trips have undoubtedly contributed to his lack of stretch punch.

Fair Odds: 2-1 

4-RUNAWAY GHOST (8/1)
Although his pedigree (107 Brisnet distance rating) suggests the son of Ghostzapper may be best-suited to sprints, I’m impressed by this guy’s LSRs. What’s more, his trainer, Michael Machowsky, has a 19 percent ROI with first-time routers. He’s worth a deuce or two at the right price.

Fair Odds: 8-1 

5-MCKINZIE (6/5)
Under normal circumstances, this son of Street Sense would be considered the “other Baffert”. After all, his stablemate has been runner-up in two Grade I route affairs, including the prestigious Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, while this guy has a single maiden victory to his credit, but the work tab tells a different story.

McKinzie has trained at Santa Anita on the same day as Solomoni four times over the past 24 days — and he’s outworked his barn brother on three of those occasions. Couple that with an extremely impressive debut and I think you’re looking at the sixth consecutive winning CashCall favorite.

Fair Odds: 3-5 

My Selections: 5-3-2