A quick reference tool meant to help the newer fan (like me!)
NOTE: AFTER A RACE HAS BEEN RUN, you can return here, click on the CARD to view the Results and watch a REPLAY.
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HIGHLIGHTS:
Maybe we need to call the SAN DIEGO HANDICAP the "come back is possible " or the "hard luck horses" stakes! A couple have been away for more than 2 years, and others just haven’t had much luck getting to the winner’s circle!
TAKE CONTROL, the first foal out of 2002 Horse of the Year Azeri, will make his second start after a layoff of 2 1/2 years in the $200,000 San Diego Handicap (gr. II) July 28 at Del Mar. Then, there’s JOHN SCOTT, who has looked good in three starts this year, winning his past two and defeating Rail Trip by a half-length last time. The 5-year-old son of Bertrando had been away since finishing fourth in the 2009 Norfolk Stakes (gr. I) as a 2-year-old. Seven-year-old TRES BORRACHOS ended a 13-race losing streak when he made a late charge to win last year's San Diego by 1 1/4 lengths. But the Ecton Park gelding has lost eight in a row since! Grade I winner RAIL TRIP was a strong second to San Diego foe John Scott in a 1 1/16-mile allowance at Hollywood June 28. The 7-year-old Jump Start gelding hasn’t been to the winner’s circle in eight starts since June of 2010. PRAYER FOR RELIEF, KETTLE KORN, and MOBILIZED round out the field of seven horses for the San Diego, the eighth race on the Saturday Del Mar program with an approximate 5:30 p.m. PDT post time. Read more at BloodHorse
SUNDAY
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HIGHLIGHTS:
FRIDAY
COUGAR II: RICHARD'S KID, the 7 year old who was considered one of the favorites in 2009 in the Breeders Cup Classic that Zenyatta won, yep he's still around and not doing too badly for himself. He has a bankroll of $1.9 Million, and he gets in the winner's circle or close to it quite often. Dynamic Host and Balladry have faced Richard's Kid before, most recently in the Prove It, where they came in second and third. They are part of a six-horse field in the Cougar II, but their trainers are not optimistic about their chances. Asked what it would take to beat Richard’s Kid, Eoin Harty, who trains Balladry, said, "An act of God." Maybe this is Richard's Kid's time to win this one. He will have to work for it though: he's giving up from 3 to 10 pounds to his rivals! The race goes off at 10:00 EDT/7:00 PDT at Del Mar.
COUGAR II: RICHARD'S KID, the 7 year old who was considered one of the favorites in 2009 in the Breeders Cup Classic that Zenyatta won, yep he's still around and not doing too badly for himself. He has a bankroll of $1.9 Million, and he gets in the winner's circle or close to it quite often. Dynamic Host and Balladry have faced Richard's Kid before, most recently in the Prove It, where they came in second and third. They are part of a six-horse field in the Cougar II, but their trainers are not optimistic about their chances. Asked what it would take to beat Richard’s Kid, Eoin Harty, who trains Balladry, said, "An act of God." Maybe this is Richard's Kid's time to win this one. He will have to work for it though: he's giving up from 3 to 10 pounds to his rivals! The race goes off at 10:00 EDT/7:00 PDT at Del Mar.
FLY LEXIS FLY (KY) is also entered in the COUGAR II! He will be making his eagerly anticipated U.S. debut for trainer Neil Drysdale. Fly Lexis Fly made a name for himself in Peru as a two year old when he won 2 legs of the Peruvian Triple Crown running against 3 yr olds. The Cougar II is a 1 1/2 mile, Grade 3 event for 3 yr olds and up. Fly Lexis Fly has won at the 1 1/4 mi and 1 1/2 mile distances at two in Peru.
SATURDAY
The DIANA: ZAGORA won the Diana Stakes (G1T) in 2011, but the 5-year-old mare faces a steep challenge this time around at Saratoga Race Course as TAPITSFLY, WINTER MEMORIES, HUNGRY ISLAND and two European invaders join the fray. Zagora in tough battle to defend Diana title Ten Things to Know about the Diana Stakes
The JIM DANDY: Watch Claire Novak and Pete Denk handicap this great renewal. That Handicapping Show with Claire Novak and Pete Denk Past Performances from Brisnet: Past Performances for Jim Dandy ALPHA, LIAISON, MY ADONIS, TEETH OF THE DOG, PROSPECTIVE and NECK ‘N NECK. A deep, competitive field of eight will face off in the $600,000 Jim Dandy Stakes (G 2 II) July 28 at Saratoga Race Course to determine who continues to the $1 million Travers Stakes (G I) Aug. 25. Read more at BloodHorse
Maybe we need to call the SAN DIEGO HANDICAP the "come back is possible " or the "hard luck horses" stakes! A couple have been away for more than 2 years, and others just haven’t had much luck getting to the winner’s circle!
TAKE CONTROL, the first foal out of 2002 Horse of the Year Azeri, will make his second start after a layoff of 2 1/2 years in the $200,000 San Diego Handicap (gr. II) July 28 at Del Mar. Then, there’s JOHN SCOTT, who has looked good in three starts this year, winning his past two and defeating Rail Trip by a half-length last time. The 5-year-old son of Bertrando had been away since finishing fourth in the 2009 Norfolk Stakes (gr. I) as a 2-year-old. Seven-year-old TRES BORRACHOS ended a 13-race losing streak when he made a late charge to win last year's San Diego by 1 1/4 lengths. But the Ecton Park gelding has lost eight in a row since! Grade I winner RAIL TRIP was a strong second to San Diego foe John Scott in a 1 1/16-mile allowance at Hollywood June 28. The 7-year-old Jump Start gelding hasn’t been to the winner’s circle in eight starts since June of 2010. PRAYER FOR RELIEF, KETTLE KORN, and MOBILIZED round out the field of seven horses for the San Diego, the eighth race on the Saturday Del Mar program with an approximate 5:30 p.m. PDT post time. Read more at BloodHorse
SUNDAY
The HASKELL Paynter heads $1 Million Haskell Ten Things to know about The Haskell Bob Baffert has won the race a record five times with horses such as Point Given, Lookin At Lucky, and Coil. This time out, it’s PAYNTER, an unlucky second in the Belmont, who will be the favorite and will start from post 3. Team I’ll Have Another will be sending out the longshot, HANDSOME MIKE: "I don't know if anyone could replace the excitement of I'll Have Another," said trainer Doug O'Neill, who joins familiar forces with owner Paul Reddam and jockey Mario Gutierrez to send out maiden winner Handsome Mike for a longshot at the big-time. The son of Scat Daddy last raced fourth in the Vinery Spiral Stakes (gr. III) at Turfway Park March 24, but put in what O'Neill called "an unbelievable work" July 21 at Betfair Hollywood Park, going six furlongs handily in 1:11 3/5.
BING CROSBY
Sprint champion AMAZOMBIE and THE FACTOR will duke it out one more time in the $300,000 Bing Crosby Stakes (gr. I), the headline event at Del Mar July 29. Just five are entered in the six-furlong Polytrack race, which is the eighth on the Sunday program with a scheduled 5:30 p.m. PDT post. Another familiar face will be COMMA TO THE TOP who could keep The Factor company on the front end, will be gunning for his first stakes win since taking the CashCall Futurity (gr. ) in December 2010. Peter Miller has raced the Florida-bred 4-year-old Bwana Charlie gelding on turf in his last three races, including a third last time in the six-furlong Robert B. Kerlan Memorial Handicap July1 at Hollywood. Comma to the Top was scratched from an allowance race July 26 to run in the Crosby. Read more at BloodHorse
