Tag Archives: Dortmund

Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita selections for Sunday, Sept. 27

FIRST RACE: 1. Roo’s Valentine, 2. Reckless C harm, 3. Hurricane Callie. LONG SHOT: Top Nothc.

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SECOND RACE: 1. Formally Wild, 2. Cougar Country, 3. Top Drawer. LONG SHOT: Keegers.

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THIRD RACE: 1. Kenjiislucky, 2. Whiskey Wild, 3. Prince Valiant. LONG SHOT: Papa Kade.

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FOURTH RACE: 1. Mor Spirit, 2. Street Vision, 3. Beaumarchais. LONG SHOT: Speed Check.

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FIFTH RACE: 1. You Know I Know, 2. Sizzlin’ Joe, 3. Horizontalyspeakin. LONG SHOT: Husband’s Folly.

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SIXTH RACE: 1. #2 Danas Best (6-1), 2. Ashleyluvssugar, 3. Kulik Lodge. LONG SHOT: Texas Ryano.

This Aussie import is running her third race off the layoff, a move trainer Phil D’Amato is 28% with. She gets some class relief and gets a jock switch to Rafael Bejarano, who is 34% with D’Amato.

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SEVENTH RACE: 1. #3 Sir Samson (5-1), 2. Guns Loaded, 3. Distinctive B. LONG SHOT: Look Twice.

This 3-year-old is returning from a 6-month layoff but look who he was losing to earlier this tear: Dortmund, Prospect Park, Bolo, Lord Nelson and Texas Red. Arguably he ran his best race on this track finishing third in the San Vicente. If trainer Brian Koriner has him ready look out. Jockey Rafael Bejarano takes the mount.

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EIGHTH RACE: 1. Silentio, 2. Talco, 3. Twentytwentyvision. LONG SHOT: Alert Bay.

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NINTH RACE: 1. #6 Alfeet Domination (5-2) BEST BET, 2. Sugar Buzz, 3. Nusret. LONG SHOT: Storm Quest.

Trainer Peter Eurton drops this 2-year-old from a MSW to the maiden claiming ranks for the first time and he’s 20% with that move. The son of Afleet Alex has two route races to his name and wasn’t bad in either. Jockey James Graham takes over.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Saturday’s top choice winners: 3 (Aeon $9.60, first race; Beholder $2.20, seventh; Songbird $2.40, eighth)

Saturday’s second choice winners: 2 (Nyquist $3, fifth; Photo Call $19.40, ninth)

Saturday’s third choice winners: 1 (Lambo Luxx $24.60, fourth)

Saturday’s long shot winners: 1 (Singing Kitty $21.40, third)

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Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita opinions for Saturday, June 6

Race 2: #7 Tiz Love (5-1)
This 2-year-old colt has been tearing up the track in the mornings at Los Alamitos for trainer Patricia Harrington. Whether that transfers to Santa Anita, we’ll find out but at the price it might be right.
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Race 8: #10 Magna Rex (8-1)
Everything trainer Richard Baltas seems to touch these days turns to gold, or in this case goes to the winner’s circle, so why not take a shot on this 3-year-old gelding making his turf debut with jockey Flavian Prat.
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Race 10: #9 The Gomper (7-2)
This 3-year-old colt has faced some toughies in his career like Prospect Park, Dortmund and Kentuckian. Transferred to trainer Jerry Hollendorfer two races ago, The Dorf decides to try this son of Sky Mesa on the grass for the first time. Who are we to argue?
@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter
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Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita opinions for Thursday, April 16

Sorry  to hear of the death of trainer Mike Mitchell after a long fight with brain cancer. Mitchell always answered my questions whether they were on the phone or in the grandstand area where he would hang out during the races, no doubt near the betting windows sometimes.  My prayers to his family.

On the racing front, I think Santa Anita has hit the wall as the cards for Thursday and Friday aren’t the best. There are only a few races that are even worth betting. Get ready for this until the start of Del Mar and look for a lot of shippers from Northern California and around the country as Santa Anita has adopted the Ship N Win program, too.

Race 3: #1 Rock Shandy (5-2)

Look who this 3-year-old has been losing races to: Dortmund, Firing Line, Calculator, Conquest Typhoon. He has faced some toughies, comes out of a key race and off the layoff. If he runs back to the Sham runner-up finish, this race is over.

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Race 6: #2 Global View (4-1)

The prep is out of the way so it’s time for this 4-year-old to get serious for trainer Tom Proctor and jockey Gary Stevens. The colt has been working well out of his last race and figure to only improve here.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Tampa Bay Downs

Tampa Bay Downs opinions for Saturday, March 7

Race 1: #2 Handy Candy (8-1)

Trainer Ian Wilkes sends this 3-year-old out for his 2015 debut off a three-month freshening. He comes out of an allowance race at Churchill Downs won by Dortmund and that race has produced three next out winners. This son of Candy Ride had three bullet works getting ready for this spot. Look for a big effort off the bench.

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Race 4: #3 Bird Prince (8-1)

Could be a big day for trainer Ian Wilkes, or he’s prepping horses for Kentucky in a month. We’re hoping for the former. This colt has been training lights out and Wilkes puts blinkers on plus Julien Leparoux takes the mount.

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Race 10: #12 Sparkling Review (turf only) (6-1)

This 4-year-old filly makes her 2015 debut, too, and she runs against older fillies and mares for the first time. She didn’t get the best of draws but she likes to come from behind so it should makes a difference for jockey Julien Leparoux.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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There is no doubt that this will be a big Saturday around the nation with graded stakes sprinkled all over the place so it’s time to put out handicapper hats on. We’ll stick mainly to the 3-year-old preps, but won’t forget the big races at Santa Anita, too.

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Grade II Swale Stakes, 7 furlongs, Gulfstream Park: 1. Bluegrass Singer, 2. Ready for Rye, 3. Daredevil. LONG SHOT: X Y Jet. Comment: This race was postponed following last week’s monsoon in Florida. DAREDEVIL might be a slam dunk as he comes out of the Breeders/ Cup Juvenile, which has proven to be an ultra-key race with many winners returning. And the biggest stat I heard was that no horse has returned from that race to win a two-turn race so that fits right in with the Todd Pletcher-trainee. However, I’m going with BLUEGRASS SINGER, who is cutting back from two turns to 7 furlongs for trainer Marcus Vitali. READY FOR RYE is stretching out from 6 furlongs and figures to be tough. Just an added note: Super Colossal has scratched out of the Swale and the Tampa Bay Derby due to a spiked fever, according to trainer Edward Plesa Jr.

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Grade III Gotham Stakes, 1 1/16th mile, Aqueduct: 1. Lieutenant Colonel, 2. El Kabeir, 3. Classy Class. LONG SHOT: Tiz Shea. Comment: This race didn’t come up that tough, especially when Withers winner Far From Over decided to pass. LIEUTENANT COLONEL broke his maiden at first asking at Gulfstream Park for trainer Chad Brown. Personally, I love offspring of Colonel John that stretch out and that’s what we have here. TIZ SHEA is another horse in here off a maiden-breaking win at first asking and has been transferred to the barn of Bill Mott. Interesting.

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Grade II Tampa Bay Derby, 1 1/16th mile, Tampa Bay Downs: 1. Moonlight Bandit, 2. Ocean Knight, 3. Carpe Diem, 4. Divining Rod. LONG SHOT: Great Stuff. Comment: I’ll be honest I didn’t pick BC Juvenile runner-up CARPE DIEM due to that previous stat I mentioned and this is his first start of the year. Trainer Mark Casse has two horses in here, MOONLIGHT BANDIT and DANZIG MOON, and I’m probably picking the wrong won. MOONLIGHT BANDIT had a ton of trouble in his 2015 debut in a Gulfstream allowance and figures to improve off that effort. OCEAN KNIGHT is undefeated and tough to ignore for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.

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Grade II San Felipe, 1 1/16th mile, Santa Anita: 1. Bolo, 2. Dortmund, 3. Ocho Ocho Ocho, 4. Prospect Park. LONG SHOT: The Gomper. Comment: BOLO has been a monster on the grass and now is the time to find out if he is the same on the dirt. By the sire Temple City, offspring have had no problems going two turns and have excelled going two turns. Now is the time to see how they do on the dirt. Jockey Victor Espinoza takes over for mike Smith, who is on OCHO OCHO OCHO. DORTMUND is a perfect 4-for-4, but he wasn’t supposed to run here as trainer Bob Baffert called an audible. THE GOMPER was all the talk after his maiden win, but has falter since. It’s put up or shut up time for the son of Sky Mesa here.

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Grade I Santa Anita Handicap, 1¼ mile, Santa Anita: 1. Shared Belief, 2. Hard Aces, 3. Bronzo, 4. Sr. Quisqueyano. LONG SHOT: Catch a Flight. Comment: Sorry, I’m a big SHARED BELIEF fan. Just think he is the best horse in America and don’t see him losing. BRONZO finished fourth to him in the San Antonio and should show improvement. Like the two shippers HARD ACES and SR. QUISQUEYANO but only for the minor awards. Heck, second place pays $200,000.

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Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita selections for Saturday, Dec. 27

FIRST RACE: 1. Red Man Run, 2. Mahalo Arturo, 3. Warren’s Wesley. LONG SHOT: Kozani.

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SECOND RACE: 1. Holy Ascension, 2. Where Is My Mind, 3. Ill Tell You What. LONG SHOT: Ju Ju Bella.

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THIRD RACE: 1. Longstocking, 2. Fantastic Style, 3. Ben’s Duchess. LONG SHOT: Street Reflection.

Trainer Michael McCarthy, a Todd Pletcher protégé, has shown a penchant for getting horses ready in their second start as he is 2-for-4 with those like LONGSTOCKING. He is also 25% with 2-year-olds and 5-for-15 sprinting. Jockey Mike Smith stays aboard. FANTASTIC STYLE has been training lights out for trainer Bob Baffert.

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FOURTH RACE: 1. Tigah, 2. I’ll Wrap It Up, 3. Buymeabond. LONG SHOT: Greeley Awesome.

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FIFTH RACE: 1. Seeking the Sherif, 2. Secret Circle, 3. Bahamian Squall. LONG SHOT: Bolita Boyz.

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SIXTH RACE: 1. Soul Driver (BEST BET), 2. Daddy D T, 3. Bolo. LONG SHOT: Stormy Liberal.

SOUL DRIVER (12-1), a son of Street Boss, received an absolutely brutal ride last time from Tyler Baze. Full of run on the rail, Baze was stuck behind horses, finishing fifth, but past the wire he powerfully galloped out in front. Not in love with the post, but love the horse.

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SEVENTH RACE: 1. Dancinthenightaway, 2. Sayes So, 3. Swiss Lake Yodeler. LONG SHOT: Big Break.

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EIGHTH RACE: 1. Winning Rhythm, 2. Scooter Bird, 3. Diversy Harbor. LONG SHOT: Kathleen Rose.

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NINTH RACE: 1. Vicious, 2. Cyrus Alexander, 3. Nob Hill. LONG SHOT: Ghost of Navigator.

VICIOUS, a son of Indian Charlie, gave an even effort while sprinting last time and should enjoy the run around two turns for trainer Eoin Harty. Comes out of the Firing Line maiden race at Del Mar and that one just lost to Dortmund.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Los Alamitos

Los Alamitos Race Course opinions for Sunday, Dec. 21

Race 2 – LRC

#3 Changing Karma (6-1)

This 4-year-old gelding has been running on the night-time programs at Los Alamitos and now tries the big boys. Trainer Tom Bazley is 39% on dirt, in sprints and in claimers. Jockey Charlton knows him well and they should enjoy the extra distance.

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Race 5 – LRC

#1 Radiant Journey (5-2)

Our Eyes: Trainer Philip D’Amato came loaded for this meet as he won four of his first eight races and didn’t finish off the board. This 3-year-old filly just missed in her debut and draws the No. 1 post, which has won more than half of the sprints at this fall meet.

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Race 7 – LRC

#10 Big Hat Charlie (5-1)

Our Eyes: Look at whom this 2-year-old has been losing to in his maiden races: Dortmund and Firing Line. Do they ring a bell? Trainer Jeff Bonde makes big jockey change to speed jockey Edwin Maldonado and this ridgling has a big work coming into this race.

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Horse racing, Los Alamitos

Los Alamitos Race Course opinions for Friday, Dec. 12

Check track conditions as it’s suppose to rain pretty good. Los Alamitos cancelled training for Friday morning in anticipation of the storm.

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Race 1: #1 Maid Easy (4-1)

Jockey Kayla Stra will have to gun this 2-year-old from the inside post, but the daughter of Top Hit is bred for speed. Star is 39% with trainer Kory Owens and won a race last week. There are no world beaters in here.

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Race 4: #6 Lady Tapit (5-1)

Daughter of Tapit received an education in her Santa Anita debut. She broke slow, but passed horses in the stretch to finish fifth for trainer John Sadler and jockey Tiago Pereira. She has been working well since that race and Sadler is 19% sprint-to-route.

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Race 6: #8 Sir Samson (8-1)

Popped and stopped and was pulled up in debut. However received decent action (9-1) in that debut, which featured Dortmund and that race has produced three winners so far. Has been working well since that race and Elvis Trujillo takes over for trainer Brian Koriner.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar picks for Saturday, Nov. 29 (Bing Crosby Season)

FIRST RACE: 1. Zip It Up (best bet, 2. Willing to Travel, 3. Rockin Robin. LONG SHOT: Gin Riki.

This 2-year-old ZIP IT UP (5-1) finished third to the possible star from the Bob Baffert barn, Dortmund. That was a sprint and now he goes two turns for trainer Tom Proctor. City Zip is a good grass sire.

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SECOND RACE: 1. Galehorn, 2. Here Comes Bobbie, 3. Home Maid Brownie. LONG SHOT: Mary Taylor.

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THIRD RACE: 1. Tamarando, 2. Big Cazanova, 3. Blue Tone. LONG SHOT: Blueskiesnrainbows.

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FOURTH RACE: 1. Film Freak, 2. Bolo, 3. Grand Sky. LONG SHOT: Metaboss.

Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens will have to work out a trip from the outside with FILM FREAK (8-1), but he’s done it plenty of the times in the past. This colt had a ton of trouble at the start last time and still finished fourth and is bred to love this trip.

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FIFTH RACE: 1. Fonz, 2. Go Black Tie, 3. Powerful. LONG SHOW: Cacau.

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SIXTH RACE: 1. Rainha Da Bateria, 2. Conquest Artura, 3. Don’t Blame Me. LONG SHOT: Jaded Glory.

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SEVENTH RACE: 1. Only Joise Knows, 2. Oscillator, 3. Spring Moon. LONG SHOT: Magic Lilly.

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EIGHTH RACE: 1. Lexie Lou, 2. California Chrome, 3. Flamboyant. LONG SHOT: Cabral.

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NINTH RACE: 1. Rattataptap, 2. Popover, 3. Rue de Cry. LONG SHOT: Ascent.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

Friday’s top choice winners: 1 (Judy In Disguise $14, sixth)

Friday’s second choice winners: 3 (Warrrior’s Ridge $6.80, first; Baruta $6.40, fifth; Always Never $12.60, eighth)

Friday’s third choice winners: 1 (Synnin $10.60, third)

Friday’s long shot winners: 0

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