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| The winter of 2015 |
LET'S GO TO THE RACES Feb 21-22, 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!
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TRIPLE CROWN TRAIL HEATS UP!
BIG RACE DAY ON SATURDAY The sophomore colts and fillies get a big leg up on the points for the preps, except for the Sunday SOUTHWEST STAKES which retains its original points of 10-4-2-1. The other two preps for the colts, RISEN STAR at the Fair Grounds, and the FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH at Gulfstream will each dole out 50-20-10-5 to the top 4 finishers of those races. The same point count will be in effect for the three OAKS qualifying races: the DAVONA DALE at Gulfstream, the BUSHER at Aqueduct, and the RACHEL ALEXANDRA at the Fair Grounds.
Battle of the Ortiz Bros. in the FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH at Gulfstream on Frosted and Upstart, and also this is the re-match of the top two finishers in the Holy Bull last month. The top three in the Lecomte meet up again in the RISEN STAR at Fair Grounds.
Mike Smith is riding at the Fair Grounds on Saturday in several races, and at Oaklawn in the SOUTHWEST on Sunday (Far Right). Corey Nakatani is a new rider for Mr.Z on Sunday in the SOUTHWEST, hoping a rider change will help him stay more focused.
From Brisnet: For the past century, the Whitney name and Eton blue and brown silks that have accompanied it to racetracks around the world rank among the most recognizable, and successful, in thoroughbred racing.
They will be on display again Saturday when Marylou Whitney homebred
GORGEOUS BIRD (Unbridled's Song) steps up to stakes company for the first time in the
$400,000 Fountain of Youth S. (G2) at Gulfstream Park.
Read more
SUNDAY'S SOUTHWEST HAS ELEVEN AT OAKLAWN
Far Right (Notional) is the horse to beat following his Smarty Jones S. victory at the Hot Springs, Arkansas track on January 19. Trained by Ron Moquett, the colt rallied to score by 1 3/4 lengths after posting a third in the Delta Jackpot (G3) in his juvenile finale. Mike Smith retains the mount on the likely favorite.
Bayerd (Speightstown), Mr. Z (Malibu Moon) and Private Prospect (Discreet Cat), respective second-, third- and fourth-place finishers in the Smarty Jones, are all back for the Southwest as well. Bayerd is one of two runners from the Steve Asmussen stable along with Bold Conquest (Curlin), who rates as a dangerous challenger in his 2015 bow.
Mr. Z (Malibu Moon) will break from the far outside with new rider Corey Nakatani, who will attempt to maintain a straight path aboard the D. Wayne Lukas-trained colt. Mr. Z, who owns only a maiden win but has placed in six stakes, veered toward the grandstand with a clear lead in the stretch drive of the Smarty Jones, likely costing himself a victory.
Read more
HRTV Replay Southwest Stakes Time was 1:47.50
DRF's Matt Bernier and Dan Illman handicap the SOUTHWEST - video
UNDERCARD
Undercard activity includes
Main Sequence seasonal debut in the MAC DIARMIDA at Gulfstream on Saturday.
From Jeremy Plonk: "Undercard Tilts
The big undercard player comes Sunday in Gulfstream Park Race 5 when Royal Delta‟s kid bro KHOZAN (Todd Pletcher) makes his much anticipated second start in ALW company. An expected delivery here puts him on the path to the G1 Florida Derby a la stablemate Constitution a year ago."
"Saturday's Risen Star Day card at Fair Grounds also includes a must-see Race 2 MSW sprint featuring the debut of HOW ABOUT HIM (Larry Jones), half-brother to Kentucky Oaks heroine Believe You Can. He meets the regally bred Candy Ride-Twist Afleet second-timer APOCALYPSE (Neil Howard)."
"A MSW is offered in Race 3 at FG as well, including the debut of Triple Crown nominee and blue-blood GANDONO (David Carroll).
"Santa Anita on Sunday, Race 5, MSW, SMART TRANSITION (J Shirreffs) by Smart Strike ex. Zardana; also Z BESHA is Judy The Beauty's brother."
Handicapping with Matt Bernier and Dan Illman - DRF - Videos
Fountain of Youth
Davona Dale
Gulfstream Park Sprint
Mac Diarmida Stakes
TCI Insider - Video - Jon & Joel on the preps Saturday/Sunday
HRTV's Pursuit of the Crown - video with Lafitt Pincay and Christine Blacker
Triple Crown - Kentucky Derby
Jeremy Plonk's Countdown to the Crown
Courier-Journal's national media Kentucky Derby poll
Steve Haskin's Derby Dozen - Feb. 17
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
DUBAI CARNIVAL
Check up on Thursday's racing results and race replays - click here
DOWN UNDER: Prep for the Golden Slipper in April, the Silver Slipper will be run this Saturday.
Silver Slipper - About the race and the card 16-hour time difference, so the
race will be run about 11:35 p.m. EST tonight, Friday, Feb. 20 in the U.S. The Golden Slipper in April is billed as the world's richest race for two year olds, with a purse of about $2 Million USD.
RESULT: HEADWATER treated some of Sydney’s best two-year-old with contempt and vaulted to Golden Slipper favouritism with a brilliant win at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
The Group 2 $250,000 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) had been the most anticipated juvenile race of the season with five unbeaten youngsters clashing but the race turned into a procession with Headwater leading from the start and winning easing down.
“That was a great performance,’’ said in-form jockey Blake Shinn. “The win speaks for itself. He did everything right and beat some quality horses.
“He did everything you could ask for leading into the biggest two-year-old race of the season.
“This colt jumps, he travels, he can sit behind, he has acceleration, he has the looks — he is the complete package.’’
Race replay and write-up
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Return here after the races to watch the replays at the CARD.
FEATURED RACES
Time ordered races - printable file
Racing Index
SATURDAY
2:00 ET RAMPART S G3, GP, $100,000, 4&up, f&m, 1m R4
CARD
2:18 ET Busher S, Aqu, $100,000,
3yo, f, 1 1/16m
R3
CARD #
2:30 ET VERY ONE S G3, GP, $150,000, 4&up, f&m, 1 3/8mT R5
CARD
3:00 ET GP SPRINT C’SHIP G3, GP, $100,000, 4&up, 6 1/2f R6
CARD
4:00 ET DAVONA DALE S G2, GP, $200,000,
3yo, f, 1m R8
CARD #
4:30 ET MAC DIARMIDA S G2, GP, $200,000, 4&up, 1 3/8mT R9
CARD
4:38 ET Spring Fever S, OP, $100,000, 4&up, f&m, 5 1/2f R8
CARD
4:55 ET MINESHAFT H G3, FG, $125,000, 4&up, 1 1/16m R8
CARD
5:00 ET CANADIAN TURF S G3, GP, $150,000, 4&up, 1mT R10
CARD
5:24 ET FAIR GROUNDS H G3, FG, $125,000, 4&up, abt 1 1/8mT R9
CARD
5:30 ET FOUNTAIN/YOUTH S G2, GP, $400,000,
3yo, 1 1/16m R11
CARD *
5:54 ET R'EL ALEXANDRA G3, FG, $175,000,
3yo, f, 1 1/16m R10
CARD#
6:25 ET RISEN STAR S G2, FG, $400,000,
3yo, 1 1/16m R11
CARD *
7:00 ET Sensational Star S (r), SA, $100,000, 4&up, abt 6 1/2fT R8
CARD
7:24 ET Mine That Bird Derby, Sun, $100,000,
3yo, 1 1/16m R9
CARD
*Derby Points = 50-20-10-5
#Oaks Points - 50-20-10-5
HRTV RESULT REPLAY VIDEOS/Brisnet write-ups:
Fountain of Youth It'saknockout elevated to 1st in Fountain of Youth
Mike Watchmaker comments on the controversial DQ of Upstart
Risen Star Intern'l Star rallies up rail for Risen Star; Imperia 5th
Rachel Alexandra I'machatterbox rallied to win easily
Davona Dale Ekati Phaeton guts out Davona Dale victory
Mac Diarmida Handicap Main Sequence maintains winning habit
Fair Grounds Handicap Chocolate Ride takes foes for a ride
Mineshaft Handicap Street Babe has all the cred in the Mineshaft
Busher S Condo Commando dashes to Busher victory
Rampart Stakes House Rules survives inquiry & stretch duel keeps stakes record in tact
Canadian Turf Long on Value proves just that in Canadian turf
Gulfstream Park Sprint C. Zee posts mild upsedt in GP Sprint
The Very One S Irish Mission accomplishes possibly final one in The Very One
More on todays races
Fountain of Youth rematch of top two in the Holy Bull
Frosted looks to turn tables on Upstart in Fountain of Youth
Upstart an expected heavy favorite in Fountain of Youth
Condo Commando makes Sophomore debut in Busher
I'machatterbox, Angela Renee square off in Rachel Alexandra
Wedding Toast formidable favorite in Rampart
Ring Weekend uncertain in Canadian turf
Jacaranda looks to pace herself in Davona Dale
Jacaranda puts perfect mark on line in Davona Dale
Main Sequence gets back in the picture
Main Sequence starts another championship drive in Mac Diarmida
Risen Star attracts top three from Lecomte
International Star breaks from outside in Risen Star
SUNDAY
5:42 ET SOUTHWEST S G3, OP, $300,000,
3yo,
1 1/16m R8
CARD *
*Makeup Derby Prep - 10-4-2-1 qualifying points
HRTV Replay Southwest Stakes Time was 1:47.50
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