Santa Anita
Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 1st-BEL, $64K, Msw, 2yo, 5fT, 1:15 p.m. ET International star sire power will be on display in Friday's opener at Belmont, as Coolmore unveils RIVER TIBER (War Front) against Gary Barber's Mrs Frankel (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and six other juveniles in this intriguing turf sprint, the first 2-year-old turf race in New York this year. River Tiber, a $500,000 Keeneland September buy, is a full-brother to 2015 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero Hit It a Bomb and 2016 G1 Cheveley Park S. victress Brave...
The mantle passes. Now that he is himself such a model for young Californian trainers, it is touching to think of Richard Mandella back in the days when he, too, would look up to those who set the standards in the previous generation. "I remember sitting in my box seat, with my horse going to the post, and I could feel my heartbeat all the way through my body," he recalls. "People used to think I was taking it well, but I wasn't inside. I could feel the pounding. And...
It's been an up-and-down stretch of late for the Bob Baffert barn, but the classy 'TDN Rising Star' McKinzie finished the week on a high note for the Hall of Famer. Making his first start since an 11th-place finish in the G1 Saudi Cup Feb. 29, and first over track and trip since he romped in the 2018 GI Malibu S., the bay settled in widest and last of a compact field as stablemate Ax Man (Misremembered) showed the way. Given his cue to inch closer into a :46.13 half,...
C R K Stable LLC's Honor A. P. (Honor Code) appeared no worse for wear Sunday morning after making the grade and stamping himself as a top GI Kentucky Derby contender with a decisive win in the GI Santa Anita Derby. "He looks good this morning," trainer Shirreffs said. "It's always a surprise when they run like he ran, because no matter how they look in the mornings or how they're training, they have to perform in the afternoon. "It was very gratifying to see him run that well... It...
Improbable gave the Bob Baffert a measure of consolation following Authentic (Into Mischief)'s defeat in the GI Santa Anita Derby, winning the GI Hollywood Gold Cup in a common gallop as the 6-5 favorite. Sent along by Drayden Van Dyke to stalk a steady pace set by longshot Brown Storm (Chi) (Scat Daddy) from second, the $110,000 Keeneland November weanling and $200,000 Keeneland September yearling traveled well within himself through the middle stages before being sent into the lead at the three-eighths pole. While he was traveling supremely well, he...
Honor A. P. (Honor Code) launched into action four wide into the stretch and powered home a dominating winner of Saturday's rescheduled GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby. After missing some time with a foot bruise earlier this year, the handsome dark bay made his belated sophomore debut in the GII San Felipe S. Mar. 7, and ran a big one in defeat after making a strong middle move to chase home loose-on-lead wire-to-wire winner Authentic (Into Mischief). Off as the 2-1 second choice to that re-opposing undefeated foe, Honor A....
Swiss Skydiver continued her climb to the top of the sophomore filly division with her third straight graded victory in the GII Santa Anita Oaks. Favored while facing just three rivals here, the chestnut broke on top from her rail draw and clocked an opening quarter in :22.92 and a half in :46.55 with Merneith hot on her heels in second. Simply cantering along with ears pricked and on a loose rein, Swiss Skydiver opened up in the lane under a hand ride from Mike Smith for a facile victory....
Three-time Grade I winner and 'TDN Rising Star' McKinzie (Street Sense) returns to action against four rivals in Sunday's GII Triple Bend S. at Santa Anita. Beaten 28 lengths when last seen in the $20-million Saudi Cup Feb. 29, McKinzie is two-for-two at this seven-furlong distance, including a win in Santa Anita's GI Malibu S. in 2018. The 2019 GI Whitney S. hero was second-best in several high-profile races term, led by the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, GI Runhappy Metropolitan H. and GI Santa Anita H. McKinzie, trained by Hall...
6th-SA, $50K, Msw, 3yo/up, 6 1/2f, 6:03 p.m. ET CEZANNE (Curlin), the second-highest-priced 2-year-old to sell at public auction when bringing $3.65 million (:10) at last year's Fasig-Tipton March sale, makes his long-awaited debut after a string of works highlighted by a bullet :47 3/5 half (1/47) last Saturday. Sharing a name with the French post-impressionist artist, the colt looks to match his career to the masterpiece that is his pedigree. Third dam, 2007 Broodmare of the Year Better Than Honour (Deputy Minister), sold for a world-record $14 million at...
Ed DeRosa of Brisnet.com takes on TDN's Steve Sherack and Brian DiDonato as they handicap Triple Crown prep races plus the big three races themselves. The three will make $100 Win/Place bets in the preps and $200 Win/Place bets in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont. Highest bankroll at the end wins. DeRosa - Matt Winn Results - Ny Traffic was second best. Bankroll: $2765. GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby - I picked Honor A. P. in the San Felipe and see no reason to get off him here with...
In a landscape where so many fixed points have suddenly melted into a mirage--Saturday, remember, was supposed to be the final leg of the Triple Crown--trainers are perhaps better qualified than most to navigate a way forward. For the unchanging cycles of the backstretch, feeding horses and breezing them and hosing them down and walking the shedrow, must be constantly adapted to the flesh-and-blood unpredictability of the Thoroughbred. In normal times, at least, races are like the high tide: consult the handbook, and you'll know post-time to the minute. Then...
The late-blooming 5-year-old Midcourt (Midnight Lute) will look to record his first win at the highest level in Saturday's GI Hollywood Gold Cup. The authoritative 2019 GIII Native Diver S. and 2020 GII San Pasqual S. winner was a close third as the 3-5 favorite when last seen going this same 1 1/4-mile distance in the GI Santa Anita H. Mar. 7. Trainer John Shirreffs takes off the blinkers for this. Higher Power (Medaglia d'Oro), fifth in this race last year, broke through in a big way with a dominating...