Tag Archives: Dan Blacker

Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita opinions for Saturday, June 4

Preview: Really good card (any card with Beholder on it is good), especially the Late Pick Four and if a couple of Bob Baffert favorites get beat that wager will pay off huge. Speaking of Baffert, he has been quiet at the meet with just a 2-for-13 record on the dirt. He’s probably getting ready for a summer assault on Del Mar has he starts a lot of comebacking horses this weekend. Phil D’Amato (9-24) and Jerry Hollendorfer (6-31) lead the way on the dirt.

Race 1 – SA
#7 Fiftypercentcotton (5-1): Trainer Dan Blacker is winless (0-for-17) on the year but one area where he excels is adding blinkers (25%, 4 for his last 12) and that’s what he does with this filly.

Race 2 – SA
#7 Bombard (4-1): Love this colt last time out bu didn’t get the job done for the team of jockey Flavien Prat and trainer Richard Mandella. Don’t think the 3-year-old liked the good turf and it will be firm today. Go to the windows.

Race 5 – SA
#6 No Contingency (8-1): This gelding has been popular at the claim box this year. In fact, trainer Mike Pender lost the 6-year-old and claimed him back out of his last race, which is always a popular angle. Pender is 25% first off the claim this gelding also has one of the best back speed Brisnet numbers. The gelding finished second at this level two back and Pender puts jockey Edwin Maldonado back on.

Race 6 – SA
#2 Twentytwentyvision (7-2)
Pure and simple we’re hoping for a pace meltdown between Heart to Heart and Midnight Storm here in the Grade I Shoemaker Mile. If that happens, we hope this gelding picks up the pieces for that team of Prat and Mandella again.

Race 9 – SA
#5 Right Wing (10-1)
#7 Alley Boss (12-1)
We’re going to dutch in this race and hope to beat all three Bob Baffert’s maidens in here. RIGHT WING is from the Jerry Hollendorfer barn and he’s 27% with first-time starters and we think jockey Martin Garcia would like nothing better than to stick to his old boss Baffert. ALLEY BOSS is from the Molly Pearson barn and has some nice works at San Luis Rey Downs. This 3-year-old is a son of Twirling Cany, who gets 20% first out winners.

Race 11 – SA
#2 Film Freak (12-1): Not sure this colt like the good turf or the distance in his last race. Trainer Tim Yakteen cuts him back to a distance where he finished second at in a similar race two back. Red-hot jockey Flavien Prat takes tthe mount and he has been winning everything on the grass.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Gulfstream Park West, Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita early opinions for Sunday, Oct. 25 (plus Gulfstream Park West)

Race 4: #4 Blessherheart (7-2)

Trainer Phil D’Amato drops this filly into a maiden claimer for the first time, a move he is 29% with. She showed speed going long and now cuts back to 7 furlongs. Jockey Tiago Pereira jumps on and he is 27% with D’Amato at Santa Anita.

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Race 6: #4 Cant Do the Danse (4-1)

Trainer Jonathan Wong claimed this gelding at Golden Gate and ships south. Wong is a 47% trainer on dirt and 30% with horses off a 46 to 90-day layoff. Wong employs red-hot apprentice Ty Kennedy.

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Race 9: #6 Lucky Reality (5-1)

Young trainer Dan Blacker doesn’t start many, but this is his best move: going from MSW to maiden claiming. He’s 50% with this move and this gelding finished second at Del Mar in the maiden claiming ranks at a higher level. Jockey Martin Garcia knows the 3-year-old well.

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Gulfstream Park West 

Race 2: #5 E Z’s Irishman (8-1)

Was bet down to 7-2 in debut, but didn’t do much running. Trainer Larry Pilotti is 28% with horses making their second career start. Apprentice jockey Harry Hernandez jumps on for a weight break.

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Race 5: #1 Morning Calm (turf only) (7-2)

Our Eyes: This colt finished 6th in the John’s Call at Saratoga and now takes a class drop. Also, that race has produced three next out winners. Trainer Michelle Nihei is 21% with horses off a 46 to 90-day layoff.

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Race 9 – GPW

#6 Set On Salsa (turf only) (8-1) ***

Our Eyes: Trainer Kathy Mongeon ships this filly down from New Jersey where the 4-year-old comes out of a race that has produced three next out winners. Leading jockey Tyler Gaffallione takes the mount.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar selections for Friday, July 24 (UPDATED)

FIRST RACE: 1. Fashioned Gem, 2. Rush of Day, 3. Jazzed. LONG SHOT: Sweet Lu.

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SECOND RACE: 1. Heavenly Haze, 2. Chief of Staff, 3. Missing Groom. LONG SHOT: Wings of Mojave.
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THIRD RACE: 1. #4 FAMILY CODE (6-1) best bet, 2. Carlos Dangerous, 3. Star Express. LONG SHOT: Counterplay.

Drops into a maiden claimer for the first time off a fourth-place finish against MSW types. Trainer Robertino Diodoro is 25% with that move and he is 20% with jockey Fernando Perez.

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FOURTH RACE: 1. Friendswith K Mill SCRATCHED, 2. Beast of Bourbon, 3. Tribal Tribute. LONG SHOT: Sizzlin’ Joe. New selections: 1. Beast of Bourbon, 2. Tribal Tribute, 3. Sizzlin’ Joe. LONG SHOT: Mr T Bird.
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FIFTH RACE: 1. Pefiolo, 2. Win Quietly SCRATCHED, 3. Shemp. LONG SHOT: Surfer Moon. New selections: 1. Pefiolo, 2. Surfer Moon, 3. Shemp. LONG SHOT: Omdurman.
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SIXTH RACE: 1. #6 Point Piper (5-1), 2. Sky Kingdom, 3. Lideris. LONG SHOT: Big John B.

This 5-year-old makes his debut on the West Coast under the watchful eye of trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, who 31% with first-time trainees. This horse is bred to run all day and gets his first chance to do that here with a huge jockey switch to Hall of Famer Mike Smith.

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SEVENTH RACE: 1. Tiz Dynamic, 2. Bench Light SCRATCHED, 3. Gin Riki. LONG SHOT: Mister Blue. New selections: 1. Tiz Dynamic, 2. Gin Riki, 3. Mister Blue. LONG SHOT: Terrys Tom Cat. 
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EIGHTH RACE: 1. Matter of Luck, 2. Scatchmeifyoucan, 3. Bella Breeze. LONG SHOT: Lady Regina

This filly filly showed speed on the drop, but faded in the stretch. Trainer Dan Blacker, who is 38% with horses moving down to classes, adds blinkers and speed jockey Edwin Maldonado.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

Thursday’s top choice winners: 3 (Smooth Talker $19.40, second race; Gravity Force $4, fourth; Midnight Transfer $8.40, sixth)

Thursday’s second choice winners: 1 (West Coast Storm $17.2o, eighth)

Thursday’s third choice winners: 0

Thursday’s long shot winners: 1 (Sooner Time $13.20, first)

 

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Belmont Park, Gulfstream Park, Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita (plus a couple others) opinions for June 28, Sunday

Race 2: #3 Missy Mouse (8-1)

Trainer Eddie Truman has been a master with horses running down the hill this meet. This filly broke her maiden going down the hill and then won a first-level allowance race against Cal-breds. Now she runs in open company at same level and will be flying at the end.

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Race 7 – SA

#9 Matter of Luck (6-1)

Trainer Dan Blacker drops this filly into the maiden claiming ranks for the first time, a move he is 3-for-3 with. She is also coming out of a key race where the top three finishers all came back to win.

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Race 10 – SA

#8 Scuti de Patuti (4-1)

This filly comes out of the same key race the other maiden filly did, too. This daughter of Decarchy finished fifth in that heat and trainer Mike Puype is 21% going from MSW to maiden claiming. Joe Talamo takes the mount.

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BELMONT PARK

Race 8: #8 Messi (6-1) SCRATCHED OFF THE TURF

Trainer Graham Motion is 32% with horses running for the first time in the U.S. He adds Lasix and jockey John Velazquez to this import.

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GULFSTREAM PARK

Race 4: #6 Big Grandpa (5-1)

Trainer Kirk Ziadie is 37% with horses making a start off a 46-90-day layoff and this one is also coming out of a key race that has produced two winners so far.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Los Alamitos

Los Alamitos Race Course opinions Sunday, Dec. 7

Race 4: #9 Runaway Wildcat (6-1)

This 6-year-old gelding has been out of the money once in seven tries at this disatnce and has been running on this track in his last four races. Trainer Lorenzo Ruiz is 31% on the year and 4-for-6 with 61-180 days between races.

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Race 5: #4 Hero Ten All (8-5)

There are no secrets here as this 2-year-old colt finished second to the Bob Baffert-trained Dortmund, who came back to boat-race an allowance field at Churchill Downs last weekend. The son of Rock Hard Ten had trouble at the gate and should be closer this time under jockey Tyler Baze for trainer Jeff Mullins.

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Race 9: #4 Nothing to Hide (6-1)

This 3-year-old filly was claimed two back with a run here probably on the schedule. She has two wins, both on dirt, and one of them over this track. Trainer Dan Blacker is 29% on dirt and a perfect 1-for-1 with jockey Elvis Trujillo over the surface.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita picks for Saturday, May 17 (updated)

Preakness Day will feature an 11:30 a.m. first post at Santa Anita.

In the Preakness, I really don’t see California Chrome losing. I think General a Rod will run better than he did in the Derby and worth a look in the exotics.

FIRST RACE: 1. L T Reckless, 2. Parada, 3. Passion Bucket. LONG SHOT: Charlie Time.

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SECOND RACE: 1. Bench Press, 2. Pass the Pico, 3. Cinco de Mario. LONG SHOT: Shining Son.

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THIRD RACE: 1. Kochees, 2. Midnite View, 3. Seeking the West. LONG SHOT: Honduran.

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FOURTH RACE: 1. Obviously, 2. Silentio, 3. Smart Ellis. LONG SHOT: Tigah (SCRATCHED). New long shot: Chips All In.

Race has been decimated by scratches with Winning Prize, Pure Tactics and Tigah out. Four-horse race for a Grade III? Embarrassing.

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FIFTH RACE: 1. Explain (SCRATCHED), 2. Hamiltonian, 3. Close to the Edge. LONG SHOT: Jovita’s Tuffy. New picks: 1. Too Fast to Pass, 2. Jovita’s Tuffy, 3. Hamiltonian. LONG SHOT: Close to the Edge.

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SIXTH RACE: 1. Number Five, 2. Remind Mee, 3. Back to Bako. LONG SHOT: Boompa.

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SEVENTH RACE: 1. Compulsive, 2. Slewisurfing, 3. Destino. LONG SHOT: Triunfo.

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EIGHTH RACE: 1. Stolen Property (best bet), 2. Public Interest, 3. Misdeed. LONG SHOT: Midnight Mayhem.

Trainer Dan Blacker is 2-for-6 with maidens making their second starts and 27% with maiden claimers overall. This gelding STOLEN PROPERTY got off to a poor start in debut and now stretches out around two turns with veteran jockey Martin Garcia taking over.

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NINTH RACE: 1. Delta Flower, 2. Empress of Midway, 3. Satirical. LONG SHOT: Time and Tides.

DELTA FLOWER, a 3-year-old filly, makes her SoCal debut after winning twice at Oaklawn Park. Jerry Hollendorfer takes over the training and he is 31% with horses first time in his barn. Jockey Corey Nakatani picks up the mount and expect the filly to be put on the lead.

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10TH RACE: 1. Q’ Viva, 2. Warren’s Jen Fizz, 3. Exclusive Girl. LONG SHOT: Natalie Paige.

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11TH RACE: 1. Fight the Power, 2. Rocked Twice, 3. Fly Boy Roy. LONG SHOT: No Ez Money.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

Friday’s top choice winners: 2 (Gracie Ragazza $6.40, fifth race; Carbonite $9, sixth)

Friday’s second choice and long shot winners: 0

Friday’s third choice winners: 5 (Kristi’s Copilot $3.40, first; Seeking the Sherif $5, second; Prime Issue $31.20, third; Redressthebalance $4.20, fourth; Rich in Tradition $7.40, eighth)

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