Apr 11-12, 2015

LET'S GO TO THE RACES  April 11-12, 2015




Note: This blog is non-commercial and was developed for my own personal use to organize my racing viewing activity.  Your comments as to its usefulness to you are welcomed & would be appreciated.  Thanks!

____________________________

Time Ordered Races / Entries - printable file

HEADLINES:
Big weekend around the globe.  UPI Weekend in Review

JOCKEY CLUB ON FOX SPORTS 1 FOR SATURDAY, 4:30-5:30 EDT. Televising the G1 $300,000 Jenny Wiley and the G3 $250,000 Coolmore Lexington both at Keeneland.

United States
In the U.S., the last of the Derby Preps at Oaklawn with AMERICAN PHAROAH expected to take the Arkansas Derby, with the rest of the field running for second-fourth for points to get in the gate on May 2.

SUMMER FRONT looking to get that elusive Grade 1 win in the Makers 46 Mile at Keeneland, Friday.

BEHOLDER launches her comeback in the Santa Lucia at Santa Anita, also on Friday, along with UNTAPPABLE set for rematch in the G1 $600,000 Apple Blossom.  Read more at BloodHorse     Untappable set for Apple Blossom rematch

***********************************************

APRIL 11, 2015 - AINTREE - 2015 GRAND NATIONAL
Saturday, April 11, 4:15 p.m. London time or 11:15 EDT (New York)
$800,000+ USD in purses, 4.5 miles, 30 jumps, 40 horses   CARD

VIDEO: Horse and rider view of the racecourse at Aintree
A.P. McCoy making his final ride aboard Shutthefrontdoor
A P McCoy farewell fever dominates Natoinal buildup
Google link for more news about Grand National

Runners and horses guide
Runners Odds
Runners and horses guide
Race guide
A P McCoy rides last ever Grand National
More on Grand National

The Grand National - Guide
The Grand National - History

Another history
This history leaves out an important chapter, the one where the American horse, BATTLESHIP, a son of Man O'War, had won the American Grand National in 1934. Then, in 1938, he won the Grand National and became not only the first dual American/British winner, but also, was the last "entire" horse to win the fabled race. While he was not prolific, he did sire several champions, in addition to an American Grand National winner. He was raced by Marion duPont, and after racing returned to her Montpelier estate, where he lived to the ripe old age of 31. He is in the US Racing Hall of Fame. Battleship wiki page

Red Rum, the greatest Grand National racehorse of all time
When Red Rum and Tommy Stack came home alone in the 1977 Grand National, he established beyond all possible dispute his right to the title of the greatest chaser in Grand National history.

In five successive years he had jumped the course five times without making a single serious mistake. No other horse had ever won three Nationals, no other horse ever covered those 4 miles as fast as Red Rum did to beat Crisp in 1973.


***************************************************
Australia - The Championships Day Two
In Australia, Day Two of The Championships at Sydney's Randwick racecourse will feature Grade 1 races Australian Oaks.  Saturday's Group 1 races, in addition to the Oaks, are the Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes at 1 1/4 miles, the Schwepps 150th Sydney Cup at 2 miles and the Cellarbrations Queen of the Turf Stakes at 1 mile.

Four-time Melbourne Cup runner-up Red Cadeaux will make his Sydney debut in Saturday's $4 million Group I Queen Elizabeth Stakes rather than the Sydney Cup.

 

Red Cadeaux's trainer Ed Dunlop informed Racing NSW stewards by email at around 1.30am Sydney time on Wednesday morning.

"The decision has been made to run Red Cadeaux in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, as opposed to the Sydney Cup, at Randwick on Saturday," Dunlop wrote on his website. "The excellent Kerrin McEvoy will ride as Hugh Bowman is set to partner Lucia Valentina.

"The weather has been the overriding factor in our decision, with Sydney having experienced an extremely wet week."   Read more
*********************************************
Japan - Sunday

Rouge Buck

In Japan, the OKA SHO will feature three year old fillies in a run for the Japan 1000 Guineas on Sunday.  The Oka Sho gained G1 status in Japan in 1984 and received international Grade 1 status in 2010. The top four finishers from a full field of 18 will automatically qualify for the second leg of the filly’s Triple Crown -- the 2,400-meter Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) on May 24 at Tokyo.

Favorite ROUGE BUCK (Manhattan Café [Sunday Silence] ex. Ginger Punch x Awesome Again.  First three starts she has won against the boys, so she should have no problem with the fillies.  This girl can race from a forward position or the rear. She’s shown she can handle a clockwise track or a counterclockwise one. She has also handled the long trip from her home-base Miho to the west without a hitch. Having run over distances of 1,800 and 2,000 meters, the only question that remains is whether she can handle her first mile with equal aplomb. With the pace of this year’s Oka Sho expected to be a leisurely one, Rouge Buck shouldn’t have a problem. Neither should she have a problem with the haul to Hanshin, according to her trainer.  Rouge Buck winning the G3 Kisaragi Sho 2-18-15:  Race Replay - Rouge is #3 - Kisaragi Sho

The Oka Sho is open only to 3-year-old females and carries a first-place bounty of 89 million yen, a total purse of nearly 185 million yen. The race is run over the Hanshin 1,600-meter outer course and is the shortest of the Triple Crown trio.  Preview for the Oka Sho

*************************************************
Jon and Joel talk about last week's Derby preps and this week's Arkansas Derby


********************************************
Triple Crown - Kentucky Derby
Arkansas Derby all about the points
Dick Powell's Handicapping Insights April 10
Jeremy Plonk's Countdown to the Crown
Bill Dwyre: Baffert has the two Derby favorites, and maybe another!
Handicapping Insights Dick Powell - 4-10-15
James Scully KY Derby report - 4-8-15
James Scully's Kentucky Derby Report 4-1-15
Derby Prep Alert
Steve Haskin's Derby Dozen - Apr 7
Brisnet 4-2-15
Jay Privman - Sunland Derby analysis - Firing Line
Matt Berneir and Dan Illman profile Dortmund - video
Productive KY Derby preps - By the numbers
Courier-Journal's national media Kentucky Derby poll
Kentucky Derby.com  -  Updated points posted to Oaks and Derby qualif. races
DRF Road to the Derby - Preps, winners, replays
Derby Watch     Mike Watchmaker & Jay Privman keep a weekly tally on what's happening with their Top 20 Derby horses
BloodHorse KY Derby coverage
KY Derby Report - Mar 18 - James Scully - Brisnet
Avalyn Hunter profiles Upstart pedigree

****************************************
RACING ON TV
NBC Sports Breeders Cup Win and You're In races
Breeders Cup Prep races 2015

****************************************

The CARDS links below will take you to replays once race is completed.

North American races are listed first below.  Japan and Australia races are below NA races, although you should be aware that Japan and Australia are run in the early morning hours U.S. time.

FEATURED RACES

Scroll below for Day Two of The Championships, Sydney

Time Ordered Races / Entries - printable file
Race Index

THURSDAY
5:42 ET  Count Fleet S H, G3, $300,000, OP, 4+, 6f  R8  CARD
So proud of ALSVID who scored in the County Fleet - replay
Alsvid gradually wore down his rival in Count Fleet
Recap of Count Fleet

FRIDAY
Click on CARD for replay
5:13 ET  Maker's 46 Mile G1  Kee   $300,000  4+  8f T  R9   CARD 
5:14 ET  Bachelor S  OP   $100,000  3yo  6f D  R7  CARD
6:10 ET  Apple Blossom H G1  OP   $600,000  4+ f/m  8.5f D  R9  CARD
6:30 ET  Santa Lucia S  SA  $75,000,  4+ f/m, 1 1/16 mi R6  CARD
Untappable takes care of business in Apple Blossom
Jack Milton mows 'em down in Makers 46

More on today's races
Summer Front seeks elusive Grade 1 in Maker's Mile
Seven in Makers Mile looking for Grade 1
Untappable set for Apple Blossom rematch
Untappable looks to rebound in Apple Blossom
Beholder launches comeback in Santa Lucia at Santa Anita

SATURDAY
Scroll down for Australia (Saturday) and Japan (Sunday) races
2:38 ET  Ben Ali S G3 Kee   $150,000  4+  9f D R5  CARD
3:40 ET  Giant's Causeway S (L) Kee   $100,000  4+ f/m  5.5f T  R7 CARD
4:39 ET  Woodstock S  WO   $125,000  3yo  6f AW  R8  CARD
4:46 ET  Jenny Wiley S G1  Kee   $300,000  4+ f/m  8.5f T  R9  CARD

4:56 ET  Oaklawn H G2  OP   $600,000  4+  9f D  R7   CARD
4:57 ET  Top Flight H G3  Aqu   $200,000  4+ f/m  9f D  R8  CARD
5:18 ET  Lexington S G3  Kee   $250,000  3yo  8.5f D  R10  CARD
5:30 ET  Kona Gold S G2  SA   $200,000  4+  6.5f D  R5  CARD
5:32 ET  Instant Racing (L)  OP   $100,000  3yo f  6f D  R8  CARD
6:41 ET  Northern Spur (L) OP   $100,000  3yo  8f D  R10   CARD
7:00 ET  Las Cienegas S G3  SA   $100,000  4+ f/m  abt 6.5f T  R8  CARD
7:13 ET  Arkansas Derby G1 OP   $1,000,000  3yo  9f D  * R11  CARD
*KY Derby points = 100-40-20-10

More on today's races
Getting All Luvy Dovey in Arkansas Derby


SUNDAY
North America
3:09 ET  Appalachian S G3  Kee   $125,000  3yo f  8f T  R5  CARD
4:38 ET  Star Shoot S  WO   $125,000  3yo f  6f AW  R8  CARD
4:42 ET  Beaumont S G2  Kee   $250,000  3yo f  abt 7f D  R8  CARD

International - Japan
Sunday
2:40 a.m. EDT Oka Sho (1000 Guineas) G1  JRA   $1,608,000  3yo f  8f T  R11 CARD


*************************************************************

SATURDAY - April 11

International - Australia

The Championship Races Day 2

NOTE:  RACE RESULTS POSTED AS AVAILABLE 
 

These races take place in the early morning hours of Saturday, Apr 11.  Sydney is 15 hours ahead of New York time.  On the West Coast, 12:10 a.m. EDT Saturday = 9:10 p.m. PDT Friday evening.

Note:  Day 1 of The Championships results and replays are posted below.

Sydney Championships $50K trophy revealed
Everything in one place - all you need to know about The Championships - click here

Contributor aims to star on Day Two of Championships
Fields - Form

Overview of Races Day 1 and Day 2
Red Cadeaux to run in Queen Elizabeth Stakes
Australian Oaks - Barrier Draw
Queen Elizabeth Stakes Barrier Draw - Early Betting picture
Queen of the Turf Stakes - Barrier Draw
Sydney Cup - Barrier Draw
 

AUSTRALIA - SYDNEY CHAMPIONSHIPS @ ROYAL RANDWICK

CARDS - FORM - Scroll to Races 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Results of all of today's races available at http://www.races.com.au/

 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint Race 5

The 3YO Sprint Championship
11:55 a.m. Friday EDT GR2 $A500,000 1200m for 3YO
Moved from February, the race becomes the autumn sprint championship for 3YOs.

Australian Oaks Race 6

The 3YO Fillies Classic Championship
12:35 a.m. EDT G1 $A1,000,000  2400m for 3YO Fillies
The premier staying test for 3YO Fillies in Australia. Run since 1885 it now becomes one of the world’s richest Oaks.
Baker's Dozen Contest the Australian Oaks: A full and well-matched field of 13 heads to the post for the G1 Australian Oaks.
GUST OF WIND scores upset in Australian Oaks - result

Cellarbrations Queen of the Turf Stakes Race 7

The Fillies & Mares Championship
1:15 a.m. EDT  G1 $A1,000,000 1600m for Fillies & Mares 3YO+
Run at 1500m since 1972 at Rosehill, the race moves to Royal Randwick over 1600m in 2014 with $A1 million on offer.
Waller Four-Handed for Queen of the Turf: Trainer Chris Waller saddles four of the 15 horses in the G1 Queen of the Turf S.
Waterhouse win 2015 Queen of the Turf stakes with AMANPOUR - Result

Schweppes Sydney Cup Race 8

The Stayers Championship
1:55 a.m. EDT  GR1 $A1,600,000  3200m for 3YO+
An increase in prizemoney to $A1.6 million sees the Sydney Cup become the autumn championship in the 2 mile handicap category.
Upset in the Sydney Cup with GRAND MARSHAL getting Who Shot Thebarman by a nose near the wire. - Result

Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes Race 9

The Weight For Age Championship
2:35 a.m. EDT  G1 $A4,000,000  2000m for 3YO +
A race steeped in history, prizemoney offerings of $A4 million makes the Queen Elizabeth the world’s richest 2000m turf race.
RESULT:  Write-up  Red Cadeaux continues his "seconditis" for the Australia Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick.  Winner, CRITERION, off to Sha Tin for the HK Queen Elizabeth II Cup on April 26, then he is off to Royal Ascot, most likely for the Prince of Wales' Stakes.

More on today's racing - Day Two:  Hartnell out for Godolphin Group 1 double

***************************************************
Day 1 - Results

The 2YO Championship - Race 6 - 12:10 a.m. EDT

2nd leg of 2 year old Triple Crown
Inglis Sires' GR1 $A1,000,000 1400m for 2YO
Result     Street Cry's Pride of Dubai Wins the Sires' Produce   VIDEO

The 3YO Classic Championship - Race 7 - 12:50 a.m. EDT
BMW Australian Derby GR1 $A2,000,000 2400m for 3YO
Australia's premier race for staying 3 year olds
Result   Holy Roman Emperor's Mongolian Khan Wins Australian Derby  VIDEO

The Open Sprint Championship Race 8 - 1:30 a.m. EDT
Darley TJ Smith Stakes  GR1 $A2,500,000 1200m for 2YO & Upwards
Sprinting Championship
Result  Encosta de Lago's Chautauqua Last to First in TJ Smith  VIDEO

The Mile Championship - Race 9 - 2:10 a.m. EDT

Star Doncaster Mile  GR1 $A3,000,000 1600m for 3YO & Upwards
Real Impact, Japanese star main attraction
Long established Australia's  mile championship, 2015 150th year
Result   Teofilo's Kermadec Takes the Doncaster Mile   VIDEO

**************************************************
NEWS
QE II Noms Include 'Designs,' Not Luger: HK Horse of the Year Designs on Rome (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) heads 13 invitees to the G1 Audemars Piguet QE II Cup at Sha Tin Apr. 26.