Thoroughbred racing graded stakes recap (July 12th - July 13th)
Here is a recap of stakes races that were run around the country over the weekend (July 12-13). Note that I already covered the Swaps, Man O’ War and Prince of Wales in previous articles…
Arlington Park
Stream Cat easily ran down loose on the lead 2-time defending Arlington Hcp (G2) champ Cosmonaut on Saturday. The runner-up had no excuses setting a tepid pace in the compact local prep for the Arlington Million (G1).
Long winded type Communique had too much stamina for her rivals in the grassy 9.5f Modesty Hcp (G3) for fillies and mares. Leading rider Rene Douglas was up for Rusty Arnold, who also saddled the aforementioned Stream Cat.
Tizdejavu (Tiznow) cruised to his 3rd straight graded turf triumph in the American Derby (G2). The facile wire-to-wire winner rewarded his backers with a paltry $3.40.
Belmont Park
Kip Deville easily disposed of three overmatched rivals in the 24th running of the Poker Hcp (G3) at a flat mile on the Belmont grass course on Sunday. Cornelio Velasquez was the pilot in the facile wire job, and the final time was 1:32.94. Godolphin colorbearer Tam Lin stalked and pounced his way to a clear place finish. Richard Dutrow’s defending BC Mile winner is expected to run once more before trying to defend his BC crown, and that start will come in the Woodbine Mile on September 7th.
Calder Race Course
Greg Gilchrist’s NoCal shipper Indyanne ($3.20) dominated the Azalea Hcp (G3) for three-year-old fillies on Saturday. 6f in 1:10.82. Russell Baze pulled off the easy wire job on the fleet 4-4 miss.
Four weeks ago in the Unbridled Stakes, Golden Spikes got the better of Gentleman James, and it was deja vu all over again in the Carry Back (G2). Marty Wolfson’s winner overcame some traffic, while the gritty runner-up did all of the dirty work. 6f in 1:11.20.
Dream Rush was even money to rebound in the Princess Rooney (G1), but she faded late again as 8-1 tracker Mistical Plan turned back and easily got the job done under Corey Nakatani. The win netted the Doug O’Neill trainee a guaranteed spot in the BC F&M Sprint. 6f in 1:10.76.
Benny the Bull keeps on truckin’ for Richard Dutrow, this time annexing the Smile Sprint Hcp (G2). He has been a bit more tactical lately, but he closed from the back to post a two-length tally under Edgar Prado in this spot. 6f in 1:11.41 was the slowest of the four graded six furlong sprints on the day.
Delaware Park
Proud Spell rebounded from a troubled 3rd in the Mother Goose two weeks ago to post a determined 3/4 length tally in Saturday’s Delaware Oaks (G2). The cowboy (Larry Jones) and his gritty female performer figure to try the Alabama (G1) at the Spa on August 16th.
Hystericalady rolled in her last 9f start when allowed to dictate the pace, and in Sunday’s $1 million Del Cap (G2), she tracked a tepid pace set by eventual 20-1 place finisher Lemon Drop Mom. The Jerry Hollendorfer trainee took over when asked and strolled to an effortless four-length tally under Garrett Gomez. She stopped the clock in 2:02.37 and returned $7.00 to win. Defending champ Unbridled Belle was a clear grinding 3rd, missing 2nd by 3/4s of a length. For the record, the winner is 10-20 lifetime and has surpassed the $2 million mark in earnings, but the Breeders’ Cup will be contested over synthetic footing, and she’s 0-4 in SoCal synthetic races.
Hollywood Park
Leading trainer John Sadler capped of the Hollywood Park meet in style, as his Warning Zone nabbed the Sunset Hcp (G2) on closing Sunday. 6-5 fav Cedar Mountain rallied from last to garner the place, a 1/2 length better than perennial purse nibbler Porfido. I do not think this was a strong race/group for the level.
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POSTED IN: Handicapping, Horses, Jockeys, Miscellaneous, Racetracks, Stakes Races, Trainers
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