Tag Archives: Christophe Clement

Horse racing, Tampa Bay Downs

Tampa Bay Downs opinions for Wednesday, March 29

Race 4 – Tam
#5 Ambassador Sweet (6-1) TURF ONLY ****
Our Eyes: This filly gets a key jock change to leader rider Daniel Centeno. She showed good late pace and will move up a class level here on the grass. Remember small barn, top jockey.
Jeff’s Playbook: 4 units to win. Back wheel exacta all with 5.

Race 6 – Tam
#4 Dramatic Entry (6-1) ****
Our Eyes: This gelding finished second in his first race since last June. Trainer John Vinson is 24% second off the layoff and he’s 43% with jockey Jesus Castanon at the meet.
Jeff’s Playbook: 4 units to win, 5 units to place and 6 units to show. EX 5-3-8 with 4.

Race 8 – Tam
#1 Hint of Mary (7-2) TURF ONLY ****
Our Eyes: Trainer Christophe Clement has two horses in here and this is the one Centeno stays. The filly had all kinds of trouble at the start but rallied to finish fourth in a BTL race.
Jeff’s Playbook: 4 units to win, 5 units to place and 6 units to show. EX 10-9-7-6 with 1.

Race 9 – Tam
#8 Hofkapelle (8-1) TURF ONLY ***
Our Eyes: This is the only first-time starter in this race. Trainer Eoin Harty wins at 9% with FTS and the sire Marsh Side has no first time turf winners, but just have a feeling Harty knows something with this 4-year-old filly.
Jeff’s Playbook: 3 units to win, 5 units to place and 6 units to show. EXBX 4-6-10.

Good luck.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Tampa Bay Downs

Tampa Bay Downs opinions for Saturday, Feb. 4

Preview: At the starting of the race wee, trainer Tom Proctor was tearing it up on the turf with 8 wins from 16 starters. Derek Ryan has 4 grass wins followed by Jamie Ness, Robert Smith and Arnaud Delacour with 3 wins each. On the other end of the spectrum, Peter Wasiluk is 0-for-14, Anthony Rini is 0-for-12, William Bradley 1-for-15, Christophe Clement 1-for-13 and David Hinsley 1-for-13. Keep it in mind.

Race 3: #4 Divine Change (5-2): This filly has been running on the grass and facing better, but trainer Dale Bennett wants her maiden broken so he drops her to her lowest level ever and tries 7 furlongs on the dirt. Bennett is 30% going route to sprint and he’s 47% with jockey Pablo Morales at the meet.

Race 7: #6 Great Harbour Cay (8-1): Trainer Jamie Ness and jockey Edwin Gonzalez have been tearing it up, winning 40% of their entries at the meet. At this morning-line this is too good to pass up. Ness is 22% second off the layoff.

Race 8: #10 Tether to Reality (5-1): Joan Scott is a good trainer. She got this gelding to the finish line first in his debut at 5 years old. He is bred to run long and Harlan’s Holiday gets 13% first time winners on the grass.

Race 10: #1 Celebrity Warrior (10-1): Leading jockey Daniel Centeno takes the mount on this class dropped for trainer Derek Ryan, who is 25% with horses the first time in his care.

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Horse racing, Tampa Bay Downs

Tampa Bay Downs opinions for Saturday, Feb. 6

Preview: Lots of horses on this card so the prices should be pretty good. Hope for good weather. They were off the turf on Friday, Hopefully, it will dry out for today’s action.

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Race 3: #2 Course I’ll Wynn (turf only) (10-1) 

This horse is likely to scratch as she is re-entered on Sunday so check the scratches. Trainer Kathleen O’Connell has had a big meet and she tries to get this mare to go two turns in her second race off a long layoff. O’Connell is 19% second off the layoff and second start with a new trainer. Looks like worth the play.

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Race 5: #5 Shake (turf only) (4-1)

Trainer Christophe Clement sends his second string to Tampa and usually has some success. He’s 1-for-3 at the meet and gets great turf rider Daniel Centeno to ride. They have a winner together at the meet.

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Race 11: #4 Imageiseverything (15-1)

Trainer Aldana Gonzalez and jockey Scott Spieth have been quite the combo at this meet, winning at a 38% clip. Gonzalez is 26% second off the layoff so the price is right.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Tampa Bay Downs

Tampa Bay Downs opinions for Friday, Jan. 22

Preview: Looks like a decent card for a week day. Trainer Shug McGaughey and jockey Jose Lezcano snuck in on Wednesday and won a couple of races. Always check out South Florida-based outfits come in looking to cash. Trainer Efren Loza Jr. and his 44% first-time starters number has one in the first with #1 Brilliantbydesign but at 5-2 won’t list it but I couldn’t talk anyone out of a horizontal single.

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Race 3: #7 Scottish Sweetie (turf only) (3-1) 

Trainer Joan Scott has won three races at the meet and they have all been with jockey Ronnie Allen Jr. They team up here with this 4-year-old filly which has a 4-1-2-1 record on this course and drops into a claimer for the first time a move Scott is 25% with.

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Race 7:   #8 Hymnotic (6-1) 

Trainer Christophe Clement is one of the South Florida guys we were talking about. He ships this first-timer starter by War Front here for he first start and gets jockey Daniel Centeno, who he teamed up with earlier in the meet for a winner. Clemente is 2-for-3 with firsters at Tampa the last few years.

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Race 8: #5 Ms. Short Fuze (8-1)

Jockey Fernando De La Cruz has been on a roll for a few weeks and he’s 30% over the last year with trainer Jason DaCosta. This filly is dropping into a maiden claimer for the first time and DaCosta is 23% with shippers.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita selections for Saturday, Sept. 26

Sorry, sort of took Los Alamitos off from blogging. Made some picks on HorsePlayerNow and did OK, but nothing to write home about. Beside, at work, we are learning a new computer system and my schedule is a little wacky (working a lot of days) and we have another week of that.

But Santa Anita is back and here are a few thoughts on Saturday’s card.

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FIRST RACE: 1. Aeon, 2. Redneck Crazy, 3. Sorcerer’s Wildcat. LONG SHOT: Little Mustard.

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SECOND RACE: 1. Adeline Moon, 2. C.C. Zipp, 3. Sudden Fame. LONG SHOT: Mrs. Norris.

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THIRD RACE: 1. #6 Elementar (12-1), 2. Curlin’s Fox, 3. Desert Steel. LONG SHOT: Singing Kitty.

This filly is returning in a tough spot, but she has won down the hill before. Now, Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens takes over for trainer Richard Mandella and they are a 33% proposition at Santa Anita. The 3-year-old is also coming out of a key race.

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FOURTH RACE: 1. Venture Capitalist, 2. Kenjisstorm, 3. Lambo Luxx. LONG SHOT: Relative Time.

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FIFTH RACE: 1. #6 Rare Candy (12-1), 2. Nyquist, 3. Swipe. LONG SHOT: On Fire.

After three straight runs on the grass, including a win, trainer David Hofmans has decided it’s time to find out if this son of Twirling Candy can run on the dirt. There are two big works on the dirt and the distance should be no problem. It’s a matter if he has the class.

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SIXTH RACE: 1. Mal Verde, 2. Smack Talk, 3. Labour. LONG SHOT: Kill Shot.

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SEVENTH RACE: 1.beholder, 2. Warren’s Veneda, 3. Wild in the Saddle. LONG SHOT: My Monet.

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EIGHTH RACE: 1. Songbird, 2. Jade Princess, 3. Pretty N Cool. LONG SHOT: Vieja Luna.

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NINTH RACE: 1. #8 Hard Not to Like (3-1) BEST BET, 2. Photo Call, 3. Lady Pimperna;. LONG SHOT: Sharla Rae.

Trainer Christophe Clement shipped west in May to take a Grade I with this mare and he’s trying it again, with the same jockey, Victor Espinoza. This 6-year-old has a wicked urn of foot in the stretch and while she hasn’t gone this far before that should be no problem.

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10TH RACE: 1. #2 Sammy Mandeville (10-1), 2. Hoppertunity, 3. Bayern. LONG SHOT: Point Piper.

This 4-year-old has had one problem this year: Catch a Flight. Well, that Richard Mandella horse isn’t running in this race so let’s give this 4-year-old a shot with leading rider Rafael Bejarano aboard. The son of Rock Hard Ten finished second in the Longacres Mile and that race has produced three next out winners.

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11TH RACE: 1. Coach Q, 2. Canada, 3. Osceola Pond. LONG SHOT: Strong Values.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar selections for Saturday, Aug. 22 (Pacific Classic Day)

FIRST RACE: 1. Skelton Pass, 2. Dream Team, 3. Colonial Power. LONG SHOT: Paiasolo.

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SECOND RACE: 1. Ranulf, 2. Life Is a Joy, 3. Sea Preacher. LONG SHOT: Biltmore Boogie.

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THIRD RACE: 1. #2 Another House (4-1), 2. Dylan Ward, 3. Blue Law. LONG SHOT: Chromium.

This 3-year-old got quite an education in his debut at Laurel. He ran into trouble and finished fifth for trainer Tom Proctor. Gary Stevens takes over so look for a big improvement.

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FOURTH RACE: 1. Kobe’s Back, 2. Appealing Tale, 3. Wild Dude. LONG SHOT: Turnover.

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FIFTH RACE: 1. #4 Henry’s Holiday (10-1), 2. Got Even, 3. Perfect Set. LONG SHOT: Tribal Jewel.

Finished second and was claimed by Ted West, who is 29% first off the claim. Tries two turns for the first time and should enjoy it being sired by Harlan’s Holiday. West is 2-for-3 with horses going sprint-sprint-route. Jockey Tyler Baze jumps on and he’s 24% with West.

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SIXTH RACE: 1. Procurement, 2. Twentytwentyvision, 3. Soi Phet. LONG SHOT: Southern Freedom.

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SEVENTH RACE: 1. Fabulous Lady, 2. Tiz a Tommy Town, 3. Annie’s Curls. LONG SHOT: Casino Call.

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EIGHT RACE: 1. #9 Danas Best (10-1), 2. Big John B, 3. Ashleyluvssugar. LONG SHOT: Power Ped.

Was fifth horse on the wire in his U.S. debut and now jumps into graded stakes company. Trainer Phil D’Amato is 20% second off the layoff and Joel Rosario jumps on.

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NINTH RACE: 1. #5 Red Vine (6-1) BEST BET, 2. Bayern, 3. Beholder. LONG SHOT: Imperative.

This 5-year-old has three wins and a second on the main track since leaving the grass. Owned by Jon and Sarah Kelly of Rancho Santa Fe so a win at their home track would be huge. Jockey Joel Rosario comes West to ride for Christophe Clement and they are 22% together. I couldn’t talk you off almost any horse in this race. It’s tough. It’s put up or shut up time for Bayern. Would love to see Beholder win, but just not sure about the distance despite fabulous workouts. Imperative is training well as is invader Class Leader.

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10TH RACE: 1. Roy H, 2. Native Treasure, 3. Labour. LONG SHOT: Mal Verde.

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11TH RACE: 1. Mike man’s Gold, 2. Buckleberry Grey, 3. Saint Prado. LONG SHOT: Oligarch.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

Friday’s top choice winners: 4 (Basmati $11.80, second race; True Ranger $15.20, fourth; Chief of Staff $4, fifth; Olympic Lady $6.60, seventh)

Friday’s second choice winners: 0

Friday’s third choice winners: 1 (Honey Lake $17.80, sixth)

Friday’s long shot winners: 0

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Gulfstream Park, Horse racing, Los Alamitos, Monmouth Park

Los Alamitos (plus a few others) opinions for Sunday, July 5

Race 3: #1 Sheza Eyeopener (5-1)

This 5-year-old mare won over this course three times last year in four tries. She returns to the dirt from the turf for trainer Rafael Becerra, who is 2-for-9 with the move. Jockey Martin Garcia keeps the mount.

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Race 8: #3 Ultimate Holiday (5-1)

Jockey Jimmy Graham makes his debut in SoCal today and rides this daughter of Harlan’s Holiday. The 3-year-old filly ran a creditable third over the track a year ago and trainer Richard Baltas is a 23% trainer this year.

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MONMOUTH PARK

Race 10: #6 Red Vine (3-1) *****

This 5-year-old broke his maiden on the turf at Del Mar a few years back and this year trainer Christophe Clement switched to the dirt and just like that he is 3-for-3. This horse is moving up the ladder  and think a win here propels him to Del Mar’s $1 million Pacific Classic. Likes to stay just off the pace and punce in the stretch. “Jersey” Joe Bravo retains the mount.

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Race 11: #8 Ashleyluvssugar (5-1)

SoCal-based trainer Peter Eurton switched this 4-year-old gelding to going long on the turf this year and discovered a star with a perfect 3-for-3. Eurton skipped the closing weekend San Juan Capistrano at Santa Anita to run here and Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens retains the mount for this closer .

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GULFSTREAM PARK

Race 10: #10 Nesso (20-1)

A long time ago, this filly broke her maiden in Southern California, but now runs on the East Coast. She is versatile, running on the front end or from off the pace. Think the pace could be hot here for look for jockey Jesus Rios to be closing in the lane. She ran well over this track a year ago. Beware.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Tampa Bay Downs

Tampa Bay Downs opinions for Saturday, March 14

Race 4: #8 Varsity (5-2)

This 8-year-old has been working well for his return to the races for trainer Christophe Clement. The gelding has won 6-of-16 at the distance and jockey Victor LeBron is 3-for-7 with Clement. The gelding comes out of a race that has produced three winners.

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Race 10: #4 Fleeta (8-1)

Daughter of It’s No Joke makes her career debut. The sire is a 15% winner first time out. Trainer Dennis Griffith has won with 2 of his last 7 first-time starters and is 1-for-1 with jockey Jose Ferrer at the meet.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Tampa Bay Downs

Tampa Bay Downs opinions for Sunday, Jan. 18

Race 5: #10 Shatter (turf only) (6-1)

Trainer Gerald Aschinger has been in the money with 7-of-8 at the meet with three winners so he knows where to place his horses. He is a 19% trainer with turf horses.

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Race 9: #2 Remember Ned (4-1)

This 4-year-old filly ran a credible third in her Tampa debut for trainer Christophe Clement, who is 27% horses second off the layoff. Jockey Victor LeBron takes over.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Tampa Bay Downs

Tampa Bay Downs opinions for Sunday, Dec. 28

Race 2: #3 Fiesta Rose (2-1)

This 2-year-old filly broke her maiden with ease at Gulfstream and was claimed by trainer Efren Loza Jr., who is 40% first off the claim from 15 horses. This filly was bred to be a sprinter and leading jockey Antonio Gallardo.

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Race 8 – Tam

#9 Remember Ned (9-2) ***

Our Eyes: This 3-year-old filly finished fourth in her debut at Tampa a year ago and returns under trainer Christophe Clement, who is 22% off long layoffs and 21% with all turf starters. The daughter of Lemon Drop Kid has been training steadily at Payson Park and jockey Channing Hill jumps on.

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Race 10  – Tam

#7 Anita Partner (8-1) ***

Our Eyes: Trainer Tom Proctor is one of the top conditioners on this circuit on the grass and he drops this 2-year-old filly into a maiden claimer for the first time, a move he is 21% with. She has been facing tougher at Keeneland and Churchill Downs. Jockey Channing Hill keeps the mount.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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