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2011 Vinery Madison Stakes Preview

April 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Kitty In A Tizzy (12-1) This filly is much better than a 12-1 shot. She was last seen finishing a close fourth in the Raven Run Stakes. The daughter of Tiznow has a victory and a second place finish in three tries at the distance. Jockey Julien Leparoux will be a great advantage for her as she tries to close from off the pace. Her latest work of :59 4/5 B for five furlongs is very sharp and trainer Harold James Bond wins with 21% of his starters first off the shelf.

My Jen (12-1) She spit the bit to be sixth by 25 lengths last out in Grade 3 company behind top sprinter Hilda’s Passion. Before that she failed to fire in the Breeders Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. Her best run of 2010 was a win in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom Handicap. It appears trainer Eddie Kenneally has her right as her latest works have been incredible. Those works were :58 H and :59 B, respectively. Jockey JJ Castellano gets up for the first time and blinkers are on.

Decelerator (4-1) Second in the Raven Run at odds of 73-1 last fall, it appears she is on the improve. Her last effort was a win by 7 3/4 lengths in allowance company at Oaklawn Park. She went wire to wire in that score and stopped the clock in a blazing 1:36 2/5. She may be ready to put in a big race in her second try after a layoff. I’m a bit concerned that she will bounce off her big effort last out though.

Fascinatin’ Rhythm (12-1) Anything can happen at Keeneland so we must be quick not to dismiss anyone too soon. This filly has a trainer, Richard Small, that wins 25% of his races. Her latest works are strong and she enters this race off a win, albeit against Maryland breds. Before that she finished third to Harissa in Grade 3 company.

Shotgun Gulch (8-1) We can forgive her last race as she faced some of the best fillies in the country in Havre de Grace and Blind Luck. Before that she raced on the turf that just isn’t her thing. Her last try of 2010 was a third place finish in the Grade 1 La Brea which was a great field. The daughter of Thunder Gulch will be moving from well back in her first try on a synthetic track. Garrett Gomez rides for the first time.

Tremendamente Loca (20-1) Ran huge to be third in the Raven Run last fall. She followed that run up with a third place finish in the Lightning City Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. Like most in this race, her works are strong. The blinkers are going on which could be a big factor. There isn’t much speed, but the connections might try and get involved early on. Pablo Morales is named to ride.

Amen Hallelujah (2-1) Is she the same filly that she was in 2010? Her results thus far in 2011 wouldn’t make you think so, but we have to forgive the last two. She was second to two tremendous fillies in Awesome Maria and Hilda’s Passion. The Dutrow trainee has a Grade 2 win over this distance at Santa Anita back when it was still a synthetic course. Look for her to put in a top effort as the favorite under jockey John Velasquez.

Evening Jewel (5-2) Last year’s Ashland Stakes winner returns to the scene of the crime to try and score a third Grade 1 victory. Her last two races have been against state bred company where she won the SunShine Millions Distaff and ran second in the Valentine’s Dancer. Her trip in that race was less than desirable. It would be nice to see jockey Victor Espinoza get her closer to the pace again.

Dr. Zic (10-1) This girl is the defending winner of the Madison Stakes. She took the field wire to wire  at odds of nearly 16-1 last year. She has yet to race this year and catches a tough field for the comeback.

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Contentious field set to gather for Grade 2 Davona Dale Stakes

February 25, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Davona Dale was a champion filly who raced for the storied Calumet Farm. The daughter of Best Turn won 11 of 18 starts. Her best victories came in the Kentucky Oaks, Coaching Club American Oaks, Acorn Stakes, and the Mother Goose Stakes. She was trained by John Veitch who also trained 1978 Travers Stakes winner Alydar. The Grade 2 Davona Dale Stakes is named in her honor. A solid field has gathered and any number of filles could take the top honors.

Bickersons is likely to be the favorite after freaking to a seven length victory in the Grade 2 Forward Gal Stakes last out. The daughter of Silver Deputy earned a 104 BRIS figure for that effort. She has performed well every time that Joe Bravo has has been in the irons. Conventional wisdom would suggests that she will regress in this spot. Her past performances show good efforts on the dirt, minus her debut over a sloppy track. She will be tough to take down if she runs back to her last race.

Dale Roman’s filly Sassy Image owns a win over the track and at this distance. She is riding a three race win streak. Two of those wins include the Grade 3 Pocahontas, and the Grade 2 Golden Rod. She has an adaptable running style. Jockey Robby Albarado should be able to lay fairly close if he chooses, or rally from the back of the pack. He might try to get first jump on the pacesetters before Bickersons is able to. I think this would be a smart decision.

Amen Hallelujah won the Grade 2 Santa Ynez in her last start, but got a tough break drawing the one hole in this race. Julien Leparoux will pick up the mount and he figures to try and take back in the early stages of the race. If she is able to come with one strong run for trainer Richard Dutrow and owner IEAH Stables she could find herself in the winners circle.

Christine Daae broke her maiden last out by 8 3/4 lengths for trainer Patrick Biancone. She is bred to run all day as a daughter of Giant’s Causeway and should do well at this distance of one mile. She sports a nice :59 2/5 B five furlong bullet. Corey Nakatani is in to ride from Oaklawn Park. The filly looks like quite a runner based off her last effort, but she will have to prove she can do it against winners.

Who do you like in the Davona Dale Stakes? Click here for information on how to get my horse racing picks and plays for this race and all the stakes action this weekend!

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Video Preview of Grade 2 San Fernando & Santa Ynez Stakes from Santa Anita Park

January 15, 2010 By 4 Comments

Enjoy and feel free to share your thoughts!

San Fernando selection: Papa Clem 3-1

Santa Ynez selection: Amen Hallelujah 3-1

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Blind Luck dazzles in Hollywood Starlet

December 21, 2009 By 3 Comments

Blind Luck provided a jaw dropping performance as she drew off by seven lengths under Rafael Bejarano in the Hollywood Starlet Stakes this weekend. The two-year-old daughter of Pollard’s Vision more than made amends for falling short in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies last out. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and jockey Rafael Bejerano both expected a good run from the filly, but even they were surprised at how well she ran. She is expected to make her next start in the Grade 1 Las Virgenes Stakes in February.

I hadn’t heard of Blind Luck’s sire, so I decided to do a little investigating. Pollard’s Vision is relatively new on the sire scene. He stands in Midway, KY for Wintergreen Stallion Station. Currently an 8-year-old, he is a son of Carson City. He won first out at Saratoga by a whopping 12 1/2 lengths. His best win came in the Grade 2 Illinois Derby. He also won three Grade 3′s during his career and finished second in the Grade 1 Pimlico Special. Blind Luck is far and away the best thing he has produced so far.

My top selection, Amen Hallelujah, finished third. She prompted the pace under jockey Alex Solis, but came up short when it was time to make a move. She didn’t run too bad considering that this was her first race since the Alcibiades. I definitely think she will be a good bet next time out. Miss Heather Lee rallied along the rail to get second at 19-1 for Bob Baffert. She seems to be improving. Baffert does very well with this type of runner.

Beautician went off the favorite and finished last for trainer Ken McPeek and jockey Garrett Gomez. I’m not sure what went wrong with her, but I expect her to come back strong next out. I would think that the blinkers are going to come off. A bit of rest will probably do the trick.

I’m eagarly looking forward to next weeks races. Any early thoughts on the WL McKnight Handicap? Leave a comment and be heard!

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Beautician and Blind Luck set to do battle in Hollywood Starlet

December 20, 2009 By 1 Comment

This year’s Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies was one of the best races of the year. Julien Leparoux masterfully guided She Be Wild up the rail and narrowly bested Beautician and Blind Luck for the top honors. She Be Wild is taking a much deserved rest, but Beautician and Blind Luck are back at it in the Hollywood Starlet. The fillies were separated by a mere head last out. Amen Hallelujah, Bickersons, and Rose Catherine will also vie for the win in this race.

The Hollywood Starlet has been a very strong race in years past. It is a Grade I event for two-year-old fillies over the main track at Hollywood Park over the distance of 8.5 furlongs. Laragh won the race last year after finishing third as the favorite in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in her last start. Two years ago it was Country Star who won the race. The victory came in stakes record breaking fashion, and it was her second Grade I in just three starts. Corey Nakatani holds the record for wins by a jockey at four. D Wayne Lukas has the most wins by a trainer at five, including four in a row.

Amen Hallelujah looks like a solid play here and she will be my top selection. The daughter of Montbrook has progressed strongly since racing for a tag of $40,000 in July. She broke her maiden going six furlongs at Arlington, and followed that win up with an easy score in optional claiming company. Her last race was a third place finish in the Alcibiades at Keeneland. She was only two lengths behind the winner. The filly that ran second in that race, She Be Wild, came back to win the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies. She enters the race fresh and offers good value at the morning line price of 4-1.

Trainer Ken McPeek has decided to add blinkers for Beautician after she ran second in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies last out. I’m a fan of the saying “if its not broke then don’t fix it”. I don’t really get why he is throwing them on. McPeek is no fool and I’m sure he has a good reason; I just don’t know what it is. She seemed to respond to the extra distance in her last two races. She spent most of the summer playing second fiddle to Hot Dixie Chick, but Beautician has a very good chance to break through with a win here. Don’t be surprised to see her run strong.

The favored Blind Luck couldn’t get it done last out, but looks strong here. The Hollendorfer trainee will have Rafeal Bejarano in the irons for the first time. She is working strongly and should get a strong pace to chase. If things are fast early then the closer could deliver a swift knockout punch to the field. Bejarano has been riding well this week and he does well on closers. She is a must use on top of all exotic wagers.

Rose Catherine actually regressed in terms of Beyer Speed Figures last out even though she was second in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. She earned a 91 figure in her maiden breaking win two back, but only got an 83 for her last effort. The speed ball is a daughter of Speightown. She will be making her first start over a synthetic track. Turf horses usually handle synthetic so I don’t expect that to effect her. However, the distance could be a slight problem. She needs to set unpressed and easy fractions to have a chance to win. Javier Castellano will be in the irons for Todd Pletcher.

Who do you like in the Hollywood Starlet?!

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