Tag Archives: Drayden Van Dyke

Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita opinions for Friday, Oct. 13

THIRD RACE: #6 Earring (2-1)
I don’t normally like betting favorites, but the way I look at this filly is that she can be a single in the Pick 5 and a single to start off your Pick 6. Trainer Tom Proctor is one of the best with turf horses. This 4-year-old finished third to better at Saratoga. Proctor is 21% with shippers and good turf jockey Drayden Van Dyke rides like he normally does for Glen Hill Farm/Proctor.

FIFTH RACE: #8 Gogoula (20-1)
Going to take a shot with a big bomb here. Go back in the past performances and you will find this filly has run down the hills before in a minor stakes and she wasn’t disgraced. She takes a drop in class and had trouble at the start in her last. Worth a flyer.

SEVENTH RACE: #3 Popular Kid (5-1)
I’ll be honest here: I hope my friend Jeff Bloom wins with #2 Kona Dreams but he is a 3-year-old facing older and he’s been done in by speed duels in his last two races. And there is a ton of speed and pressers in this race. Therefore I was looking for a closer. I consider #9 Quality Line, but he just doesn’t seem to want two turns. Then I saw Popular Kid. Look two races back to what Kent Desormeaux did in just missing on the Del Mar turf. He took the horse back and that’s exactly what he needs to do today.

EIGHTH RACE: #1 Air On Fire (10-1)
The “other” Mandella. Trainer Richard Mandella has the morning-line favorite in Milhaud (5-2) and this first-time turfer. Air On Fire is a son of Unbridled’s Song, who gets 13% winner first time on the turf. He has a big work showing and jockey Rafael Bejarano takes over. A Mandella exacta box would seem to be in order.

Good luck.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita opinions for Thursday, Oct. 5

SECOND RACE: #5 Psycho Dar
This gelding broke his maiden at first asking at Del Mar. Has speed and jockey Evin Roman stays aboard for trainer Steve Miyadi and they are 25 percent together. Also comes out of a key race that has produced two winners so far.

FIFTH RACE: #9 Hawk’s Journey (10-1)
Trainer Ed Moger Jr. is having a good year and brings this filly down from NoCal. This is her first time in a claimer and hot jockey Drayden Van Dyke jumps on. In addition to a win bet I would back wheel her in the exacta.

SEVENTH RACE: #9 Cheekaboomboom (7-2)
This gelding is 2-1-1-0 on the dowhill turf course and jockey Flavien Prat stays aboard. Prat is 25% with trainer Peter Eurton. Play an exacta box with the speedy Mr Vargas (#6, 3-1).

EIGHTH RACE: #10 Decarchy Dawn (3-1)
Trainer Bob Hess Jr. is pulling out all the stop to get this 3-year-old to break his maiden. He is adding blinkers and gelded the horse since his last race. The son of Decarchy comes out of a key Del Mar race that has produced two winners so far and keeps jockey Kent Desormeaux aboard.

Good luck.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar picks for Friday, Nov. 25 (Sorry they are late)

Preview: Despite missing last Saturday, jockey Flavien Prat leads the riding race by one (8-7) over Santiago Gonzales. In the training standings, a hat trick on Sunday put Peter Miller on top with six victories. Then he won three more races on Thursday and he is starting to run away with the training title.

SORRY PICKS ARE LATE.

Race 1: #6 Holidayincambodia (8-1), 2. Altaira, 3. Rosarita. LONG SHOT: Audra.
This filly won at this level at LRC, then was bumped up and now comes back down. Trainer Dan Hendricks is 33% when dropping a horse two or more classes. Jockey Brice Blanc continues to ride.

Race 2: 1. Salient, 2. Jet Set Man, 3. My Uncle Al. LONG SHOT: Hot Rodin.

Race 3: 1. Mr Ability, 2. Hot Smoke, 3. Elwood J. LONG SHOT: Ms. Wakaya.

Race 4: 1. Miss Big Stuff, 2. Lajatico, 3. Sturdy One. LONG SHOT: Little Voice.

Race 5: #2 Ourroseofthenile (8-1), 2. Wicked Factor, 3. Pontificator. LONG SHOT: Tell My Fortune.
Gave an even effort in her debut in late August and hasn’t been seen since. That race has produced at least two winners. This daughter of Pioneerof the Nile got out of the gate slow and it looks like trainer Joe Herrick has worked on that. Jockey Iggy Puglisi stays aboard.

Race 6: 1. Ashleyluvssugar, 2. Flamboyant, 3. Quick Casablanca. LONG SHOT: Royal Albert Hall.

Race 7: 1. Prime Attraction, 2. Univited, 3. My Italian Babbo. LONG SHOT: Hollywood Strike.

Race 8: #11 Alsatian (8-1), 2. Extreme Heat, 3. Amodei. LONG SHOT: Bottle Service.
We liked this colt last week when he was entered but trainer Neil Drysdale scratched and we’re not happy about the outside draw but the rails are at zero so that will help anyone going wide. This colt is bred to love the turf and Drysdale has them cranked up first time out but he’s 19% second time. Good turf rider Drayden Van Dyke takes the mount.

Good luck.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Del Mar, Delta Downs, Horse racing

Del Mar picks for Saturday, November 19 (plus Delta Downs)

Preview: Jockey Norberto Arroyo Jr. missed Thursday’s card due to personal reasons but was due back Friday and will ride this weekend. Flavien Prat, Kent Desormeaux and Martin Pedroza are all riding elsewhere today. The rails on the turf course will be at 24 feet which could mean speed will dominate on the green.

Race 1: 2. #6 Black Tie ‘n Tails (6-1), 2. Junior Gilliam, 3. El Super. LONG SHOT: Dano’s Dream.
Trainer Peter Miller claimed this gelding and he must have had a planned for this as this 4-year-old goes first time on the turf. Miller is 32% first off the claim and he gets apprentice Austin Solis to ride which tells me they are going to try and go to the front.

Race 2: 1. Finallygotabentley, 2. Quorum of Joy, 3. Senator Bob. LONG SHOT: Captain Akers.

Race 3: 1. #6 Big Hit (6-1) BEST BET, 2. Fielder, 3. Law Abidin Citizen. LONG SHOT: Little Juanito.
Trainer Phil D’Amato is 47% when have a horse go sprint-route-sprint like this 2-year-old. The colt should be plenty fit for this elongated sprint. Santiago Gonzalez picks up the mount for the injured Rafael Bejarano.

Race 4: 1. #1 Sergio (5-1), 2. Avalanche, 3. Irap. LONG SHOT: Odyssey Explorer.
Big jockey switch to Gary Stevens, who rode two turf winners opening weekend. This colt’s best race came on the grass so why he was switch to the dirt for his last is a mystery.

Race 5: 1. Mastery, 2. California Diamond, 3. Bernin Sensation. LONG SHOT: Opper Wallah.

Race 6: 1. #1 Gangster (12-1), 2. Liam the Charmer, 3. Fritz Johansen. LONG SHOT: Sawyer’s Hill.
In his second race back off a long layoff, trainer Doug O’Neill puts this 4-year-old on the turf for the first time and his sire Street Boss gets 18% winners first time on the green. Good grass rider Drayden Van Dyke takes the mount. O’Neill is also 23% second off the layoff.

Race 7: 1. Match Play, 2. Honor and Courage, 3. Bobby Abu Dhabi. LONG SHOT: Adorned.

Race 8: 1. Wanstead Gardens, 2. Play Hard to Get, 3. Perfectly Majestic. LONG SHOT: Little Curlin.

Race 9: 1. Aloha Spirit, 2. Warren’s Honey Bee, 3. Motutapu. LONF SHOT: Turf Club Queen.

Plus here are some picks on the big 2-year-old races at Delta Downs.

DELTA DOWNS
Race 6 (Delta Downs Princess): 1. Flatter Up, 2. Golden Mischief, 3. Shane’s Girlfriend, 4. Jilly.
Race 7 (Delta Downs Jackpot): 1. Thirstforlife, 2. Gunnevera, 3. Baladeen, 4. Hot Sean.

Good luck.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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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. 13

Preview: Several riders, including leading jockey Flavien Prat. It could be a big day for jockey Rafael Bejarano, who has missed several weekend days to ride for trainer Bob Baffert.

Well, couldn’t catch a break Friday as in almost all the dirt races we had the lead at the head of the stretch, but the horses went backwards from there. You have to remember the track gets worked on Fridays after mornings workouts. According to several people, the track was playing slow and deep on the card.

Hope for better results today.

Race 1: 1. Mr T Bird, 2. Tattenham, 3. On Draft. LONG SHOT: Yes Yes Yes.

Race 2: 1. Very Hot, 2. Decoded, 3. Dixie Chick Rocks. LONG SHOT: Lofty Cause.

Race 3: 1. Buymeabond, 2. Horizontalyspeakin, 3. Te Rapa. LONG SHOT: Unusual Taste.

Race 4: 1. Amodei, 2. Six Point Rack, 3. Upstaging the Cast. LONG SHOT: Burnt Cognac.

Race 5: 1. Seve’s Road, 2. Crown the Kitten, 3. China Girl Lover. LONG SHOT: Infobedad.

Race 6: 1. Weirdhaircut Seth, 2. King’s To You, 3. Dream It Do It. LONG SHOT: It’s Just Bob.

Race 7: 1. #3 Budokan (8-1), 2. Big Gray Rocket, 3. Gemstorm. LONG SHOT: Cut.

This first-time starter from the Jerry Hollendorfer barn has a couple of good works over the track and it isn’t often you get a price like this on The Dorf. The sire Hard Spun is 10% first time out and Hollendorfer is 28% first time out.

Race 8: 1. Klimt, 2. Big League, 3. Thirstforlife. LONG SHOT: Rinse and Repeat.

Race 9: 1. #11 Ashley’s Sassy (5-1) BEST BET, 2. Brainspin, 3. Fantasy of Luck. LONG SHOT: Be a Lady.

Jockey Rafael Bejarano had a choice of four horses in this race and chooses this Peter Eurton-trained filly. She has a couple of good works coming into the race and Eurton is 24% with horses off a 61 to 180-day layoff and he’s 26% with Bejarano.

Race 10: 1. #7 Brooks House (6-1), 2. Onzaway, 3. Georgia Blue. LONG SHOT: Exuberante.

This filly had all kinds of trouble in her last at Churchill Downs and now trainer Victoria Oliver, who is 2-1-1-0 at the meet, ships her west. Jockey Drayden Van Dyke, who won for Oliver earlier in the meet, gets on.

Good luck.

@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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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar selections for Friday, Aug. 5 (4 p.m. first post)

Preview: Just an OK card for a weekday. Phil D’Amato leads all trainers with 5 wins on the grass. Surprisingly a trio of trainers are struggling on the green: Doug O’Neill 0-12, Mike Puype 0-11 and Jerry Hollendorfer 0-11. Either they will get hot or continue the cold streak. You decide.

Race 1: 1. Feel Freely, 2. Red Apple, 3. Ravizzone. LONG SHOT: Miss Bula Bula.

Race 2: 1. Nueces, 2. Boone Docks, 3. Profound Visionary. LONG SHOT: What We Doing.

Race 3: 1. Trust Your Gut, 2. Unapologetic, 3. Chris and Dave. LONG SHOT: Start a Runnin.

Race 4: 1. Rockin Rudy, 2. Cammy’s Music, 3. Thirty Pepperonis. LONG SHOT: Dude’s Dude.

Race 5: #3 Temple Keys (6-1) BEST BET, 2. Tengas Ransom, 3. Lindante. LONG SHOT: Anatolian Heat.
Trainer Richard Baltas takes the blinkers off, a move he is 24% with, and he puts jockey Kent Desormeaux aboard and they are 2-for-10 together.

Race 6: 1. Brother Soldier, 2. Lucky Views, 3. Agent Di Nozzo. LONG SHOT: My Secret Affair.

Race 7: 1. #2 Late Spring (12-1), 2. Shrinking Violet, 3. So Sweetitiz. LONG SHOT: Swift Lady.
For the last few years trainer Victoria Oliver has shipped a few grass horses to Del Mar and they always seem to run good. This filly has a record of 9-3-3-1 at this distance on the grass and Drayden Van Dyke rides.

Race 8: 1. #4 Cyclone Betty (4-1), 2. Patience Lady, 3. Ultimate Game. LONG SHOT: Madera Jubilee.
Trainer Bruce Headley bred this 3-year-old filly and owns the sire Cyclotron, who gets winners at an 18% rate first time out. Headley puts good gate jockey Edwin Maldonado aboard and they are 29% together.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar selections for Saturday, July 16

Preview: Opening day has come and gone, and now we get into the meat and potatoes of the meet. The first three days all have 10 races so that’s a good sign. Let’s hope it continues. Yesterday we discussed the best turf riders in the second half of the Santa Anita meet. Here are some riders maybe to ignore on the turf: Fernando Perez 0-for-45, Edwin Maldonado 0-for-25 and Alex Solis 1-for-19.

Race 1: 1. #4 Brother Soldier (4-1), 2. Stormin Trick, 3. Overcomer. LONG SHOT: Two Six Wins.
This gelding was claimed last time out by trainer Robertino Diodoro, who is 26% first off the claim.The 5-year-old is moving from an open $10K claiming to a nonwinners of three at the $16K level. There’s also a big jock switch to take notice of from E. Gomez to Tyler Baze.

Race 2: 1. Angel Lane, 2. Sunshine Laurie, 3. Passionate Emotion. LONG SHOT: Adios Princess.

Race 3: 1. Xoxo, 2. Moment Is Right, 3. Codacious. LONG SHOT: Cindys Secret.

Race 4: 1. Basinca, 2. Look Me in the Eye, 3. Spanish Hombre. LONG SHOT: Midnight Edition.

Race 5: 1. #3 Lieutenant Colonel (6-1), 2. Vyjack, 3. Toowindytohaulrox. LONG SHOT: A Red Tie Day.
This gelding is making the first start of his 10-race career on the grass. On the dirt he has faced the likes of El Kabeir, Frosted, Big John B and Melatonin. Not exactly slouches. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer is cutting him back hoping for a new career on the green.

Race 6: 1. Rinse and Repeat, 2. Rim Ditch, 3. Brandan. LONG SHOT: Close to Midnight.

Race 7: #3 I’malreadythere (6-1), 2. Lauren’s Ladd, 3. It’s the Ice. LONG SHOT: Horse Greedy.
Jockey Flavien Prat could have ridden for trainer Richard Mandella, but he opts for this gelding trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, who is 20% with horses off a 90-plus-day layoff. The outside post will be the main obstacle here.

Race 8: 1. Go Baby Run, 2. Noted and Quoted, 3. Morganite,. LONG SHOT: Tap On a Star.

Race 9: 1. #8 She’s Not Here (12-1), 2. Majestic Heat, 3. Nancy From Nairobi. LONG SHOT: Her Emmynency.
This mare is 0-for-3 since turning 5 years old, but those two wins over this course last year just stick out. Maybe she just loves the ocean air. Jockey Drayden Van Dyke jumps on her for the first time and here’s hoping he adopts the style she had last year when she made one run down the stretch.

Race 10: 1. Speed General, 2. Alaskan Cruise, 3. One for My Baby. LONG SHOT: Hoosier Road.

Good luck.

Friday’s top choice winners: 1 (Grazen Sky $14.20, seventh race)

Friday’s second choice winners: 2 (I’ll Be Around $10.60, second; Rye $12.40, third)

Friday’s third choice winners: 1 (Chief of Staff $12, ninth)

Friday’s long shot winners: 2 (Grandma’s Hands $4.60, fifth; Alaskan Son $9.40, 10th)

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita opinions for Saturday, June 26

Preview: Gold Cup Day and we like the idea of running the race as the last event on the card. Rafael Bejarano went 2-for-2 on Thursday to create some space in the jockey’s race and he could pick up some more today as Flavien Prat is suspended and can only ride in the Gold Cup. Bad day on Friday as favorites won everything and my favorites ran up the track

Race 3: #4 Concorso (9-2): Trainer Dan Hendricks is 2-for-8 at the meet. This gelding showed good speed in breaking his maiden at Los Alamitos but he also has the Brisnet top Late Pace Rating. Hendricks is 21% with horses coming off a 46 to 90-day layoff and jockey Drayden Van Dyke gets aboard.

Race 4: #7 Chasing Aces (6-1): Trainer Peter Miller scored Thursday with a maiden training at San Luis Rey Downs and that’s what we have here in this colt sired by Flatter, an 11% first out sire. Miller is 17% first time out and he’s 26% with jockey Fernando Perez.

Race 6: #8 Family Code (3-1): This gelding pressed the pace in his last win and has two wins over this track. Trainer Robertino Diodoro is 48% when he drops a horse off a win.

Race 7: #5 Tiz No Bluff (6-1): This colt is making his second career start after an even effort in his first try around two turns. He should improve off that effort for trainer Ron Ellis, who is 24% with horses off a 61 to 180-day layoff and 20% on the dirt.

Race 8: #2 Kobe’s Back (5-2): Absolutely love this horse in this spot going 7 furlongs. He also loves this track with a 6-3-2-0 record over the oval. There is plenty of speed in here and he has Brisnt’s top Class and Late Pace Ratings.

Race 9: #1 Bal a Bali (9-2): This horse has run all 21 lifetime efforts on the grass so why does Richard Mandella run him here? Because he’s a Hall of Fame trainer. The 6-year-old horse from Brazil has been tearing it up in the mornings in workouts on the dirt and there are no world beaters in this race so why not take a shot? Mandella is 26% going from turf to dirt and 22% with beaten favorites. This horses has been facing tough ones on the grass so the class shouldn’t be a problem and jockey Flavien Prat stays aboard.

Good luck.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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