Tag Archives: Abel Lezcano

Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar selections for Sunday, Aug. 14

Preview: The turf rails will be set at 12 feet, giving closers a decent shot. On the main track jockeys to think twice about are Drayden Van Dyke 0-for-16, Abel Lezcano 0-13 and Mike Smith 1-15.

Race 1: 1. Space Cadet, 2. Spindle, 3. Atlantic Slew. LONG SHOT: Topaz Time.

Race 2: 1. Midnight Rambler, 2. Trust Ur Intuition, 3. Eddie Haskell. LONG SHOT: Senator Robert.

Race 3: 1. I B Mike, 2. Coyote Fly, 3. Overcomer. LONG SHOT: Dadtaughtmewell.

Race 4: 1. #9 Feldini (6-1), 2. Dark Energy, 3. Angel Eria. LONG SHOT: Aztec Warrior.
Trainer Scott Hansen is 43% the first time he puts a horse on the grass for the first time. Jockey Drayden Van Dyke jumps back. The sire Twirling Candy gets 10% winners first time on the green.

Race 5: 1. #2 Cordiality (5-1), 2. Allsquare, 3. Filly On Fire. LONG SHOT: The Spiral Jetter.
Trainer Mark Glatt is having a huge meet and he looks to continue it with this first off the claim filly. Glatt is 31% first off the claim and jockey Flavien Prat, 27% with Glatt, takes over.

Race 6: 1. Hobbits Hero, 2. Tuco, 3. Zinvor. LONG SHOT: Reflected Star.

Race 7: 1. Fact of Life, 2. American Gal, 3. Cho Has Zip. LONG SHOT: Hopefully.

Race 8: 1. #5 Barbara Beatrice (6-1), 2. Singing Kitty, 3. How Unusual. LONG SHOT: Tiz a Kiss.
This filly has been facing open company and now drops into a Cal-bred stakes. She has won over this course before and trainer Phil D’Amato is good in all categories, especially 25% third off the layoff. She might get overlooked in the wagering.

Race 9: 1. Awesome Image, 2. Legitimate, 3. Star Express. LONG SHOT: Olimpio’s Scat Cat.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar selections for Saturday, Aug. 6

Preview: Not a bad card with a pair of stakes races on the 10-race card. Some stats to consider are jockeys not doing well on the dirt: Drayden Van Dyke 0-for-15, Abel Lezcano 0-11, Jamie Theriot 1-15 and Mike Smith 1-14.

Race 1: Nextdoorneighbor, 2. Basmati, 3. Luckarack. LONG SHOT: Changing Karma.

Race 2: 1. #6 Big Tire (5-1), 2. Hay Dude, 3. All Call. LONG SHOT: Madikwe.
It’s been a long time since this gelding has been on the grass, but trainer John Brocklebank claimed him last out and gets top turf rider Flavien Prat to take the mount. Look for this 5-year-old to close down the lane.

Race 3: 1. Truly Ponti, 2. Angel Lane, 3. Esmeralda Belle. LONG SHOT: Lisa Largo.

Race 4: 1. #3 Rooms (10-1), 2. Miss Southern Miss, 3. Champagne Room. LONG SHOT: Ciao Bella Rosa.
This filly wanted no part of two turns on the grass so what does trainer George Papaprodromou do? He puts this maiden in a stakes on the dirt cutting back in distance. She should be plenty fit and he gets the meet’s leading rider Flavien Prat to take over.

Race 5: 1. Sutton’s Smile, 2. La Boheme, 3. Stylish in Black. LONG SHOT: Dynamic Mizzes K.

Race 6: 1. Pragmatical, 2. Tandora, 3. Vivacious Beauty. LONG SHOT: Dashin Ashen.

Race 7: 1. #7 Annie’s Candy (15-1), 2. Bombard, 3. Curlin Rules. LONG SHOT: Trinitas Soldier.
This gelding showed a decent effort while closing in a 5-furlong turf event recently. Now trainer Peter Miller stretches him out and Miller is 21% with horses their second time on the turf. Jockey Norberto Arroyo keeps the mount.

Race 8: 1. Excavation, 2. Straight Fire, 3. James River. LONG SHOT: Plum Dandy.

Race 9: 1. Lucky Bryan, 2. Moonlight Drive, 3. Monster Bea. LONG SHOT: Dressed in Hermes.

Race 10: 1. #4 Little Mustard (5-1) BEST BET, 2. Rideo, 3. Alaskan Cruise. LONG SHOT: Woodstock Memory.
This gelding likes to finish second and third, but maybe today is graduation day. Jockey Flavien Prat could have ridden two others in this race but opted to get back on this 3-year-old. The gelding likes to be close to the pace so maybe there will be a speed bias to help him.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita opinions for Friday, July 1

Preview: One can only hope the cards get better this holiday weekend, but I doubt it. With the remainder of the meet on the main track, here are some jockeys to think twice about: Agapito Delgadillo is 2-for-38 on the dirt, Abel Lezcano is 0-for-28 and Kerwin John is 0-for-20. We gave out another double-digit winner on Thursday which is no mean feat with the field sizes so small.

Race 2 – SA
#5 Tangled Up in Ju (3-1): This filly is dropping to her lowest level yet and she is making her third start off the layoff and with improving speed figures she might fire her best shot today. Key jock change from apprentice Barnes to journeyman Edwin Maldonado, who is 25% with trainer Mike Machowsky at Santa Anita.

Race 7 – SA
#3 Filly On Fire (6-1): Trainer Victor Garcia experimented on the turf last time with this filly and now she returns to her favorite surface. All three career wins are on dirt and she is 6-2-1-0 on the Santa Anita oval. She has been training lights out so could be coming up to a good one.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita opinions for Monday,May 30

Preview: Not the greatest card, but it’s a holiday so let’s have a good time. A few numbers to ponder: the leading rider of the main track is Edwin Maldonado with 15 wins from 51 mounts followed by Tyler Baze (10-47) and Rafael Bejarano (9-43). On the other end, Stewart Elliott 1-for-29, Agapito Delgadillo (0-21) and Abel Lezcano (0-18).

Race 1 – SA
#7 Mai Tai (5-2) LIKELY TO SCRATCH
This filly ran into a buzzsaw named Enola Gray first time out and lost by more than 16 lengths, despite finishing second. Enola came back to win a Cal-bred stakes Saturday so that’s good for this 3-year-old.

Race 5 – SA
#3 Little Bit Lovely (6-1): This 4-year-old could prove to be a great claim by trainer Jack Carava. She won her only race down the hill and comes back on the same layout with the same jockey, Flavien Prat, who is leading the meet in winners on the grass. The fill also has the top Brisnet Prime and Class Ratings.

Race 8 – SA
#8 Illuminant (5-1): This filly finished third to the monster female Tepin in the Grade I Jenny Wiley. She is the only speed I see in this race and think Falvien Prat will go to the front with her again. She must make up a length on Wekeela, who is shipping in for trainer Chad Brown but I think she can do with a patient ride.

Race 10 – SA
#9 El Super (6-1): The Richard Mandella-trainee gave just an even effort in his first race in more than a year last time. Good turf jockey Flavien Prat takes over and he is 17% with Mandella.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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