Tag Archives: Efren Loza Jr.

Horse racing, Tampa Bay Downs

Tampa Bay Downs opinions for Friday, March 25

Preview: There was a 50% chance of rain starting Thursday night so grass racing doesn’t look good for today or the rest of the weekend. Like the sixth race on the turf, but the weather gets me off it but if it stays oon look hard at #4 Harmnotic (8-1).

 

Race 1 – Tam

#1 Gasolina (5-2): Trainer Efren Loza Jr. is 41% at the meet, shipping some down from Gulfstream Park like he does with this colt. The 3-year-old drops in class and gets leading rider Antonio Gallardo. Loza is 27% going from a route to a sprint so this colt is plenty fit.                                

Race 3 – Tam

#2 Angel Falls (7-2): Stays at the same level after claim by trainer Thomas McCooey Jr., who is 31% first off the claim. This filly is also coming out of a key race that has produced two winners so far.

                                

Race 4: #5 Megan’s Muse (5-2) 

This filly just gave an even effort on the grass so trainer John Terranova drops her and he is 6-for-8 (75%) when dropping a horse two or more levels. Jockey Jose Ferrer keeps the mount.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Tampa Bay Downs

Tampa Bay opinions for Wednesday, Feb. 17

Preview: Pretty decent weekday card decent the fact that they will run five days this week. Jockey Antonio Gallardo came back to life over the weekend after a huge slump, but we knew that would happen.

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Race 2: #10 Sylver Magic (7-2) 

This filly is making her first start in more than a year. She has been training well and comes out of a key Gulfstream Park West key race. Trainer Gary Jackson is 20% with second time starters and 22% with Manoel Cruz.

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Race 4: #10 Hi Ho Heels (turf only) (9-2)

I would be higher on this filly if it wasn’t for the post position draw. Trainer Gerald Aschinger is 4-for-8 with horses going a route of ground for the first time and he’s good first time turf.

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Race 6: #2 El Santo (turf only) (3-1)

Trainer Efren Loza Jr. has been trying to get this gelding in the starting gate here a number of times, but bad draws have meant scratches. Loza is 42% with first time starters. He’s not as good on the turf, but there must be a reason he wants this 3-year-old on the grass.

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Race 10: #4 Lady Allegra (turf only) (7-2) 

This filly broke her maiden in Ireland and now surfaces here for trainer Arnaud Delacour, who is 20% with horses running off a 90-day layoff or more and 23% first-time Lasix. Red hot jockey Daniel Centeno is aboard.

@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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Del Mar, Horse racing, Tampa Bay Downs

Del Mar selections for Saturday, Nov. 28 (Plus Tampa Bay Downs)

FIRST RACE: 1. Roper, 2. Financial, 3. Spirit World. LONG SHOT: Adair.

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SECOND RACE: 1, Tulira Castle, 2. Alex Rossi, 3. Airfoil. LONG SHOT: I’ll Wrap It Up.
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THIRD RACE: 1. #4 UNDENIABLE U (9-2) (BEST BET), 2. Path of David, 3. Archaeo. LONG SHOT: Silent Movies.

Trainer Bob Baffert isn’t known as a turf trainer, but he is 31% with horses making their second route race. Jockey Victor Espinoza just missed last time with the well-regarded Canada.

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FOURTH RACE: 1. Etailer, 2. Eddie Haskell, 3. Lymebyrd. LONG SHOT: Demonslayer.
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FIFTH RACE: 1. Mokat, 2. Optimism And Hope, 3. Wake the Dawn. LONG SHOT: Jeremy’s Legacy.
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SIXTH RACE: 1. #7 Tribal Jewel (8-1), 2. Storm Comin Thru, 3. True Ten. LONG SHOT: Roman Tizzy.

Trainer Peter Miller claimed this gelding last time and runs him back in the same spot. Miller is 24% first off the claim and has put a couple of big works into him. Jockey Brice Blanc jumps on and he is 2-for-4 with Miller.

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SEVENTH RACE: 1. Royal Albert Hall, 2. March, 3. Om. LONG SHOT: Closing Bell.
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EIGHTH RACE: 1. Dortmund, 2. Big Cazanova, 3. Imperative. LONG SHOT: Majestic City.
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NINTH RACE: 1. #6 Hunt (7-2), 2. Roy H, 3. Unusual Fleet. LONG SHOT: Follow Me Crev.

This 3-year-old finished fourth in the Twilight Derby and many he faced will be running earlier on the card in the Hollywood Derby so we should have a good handle on whether that is a key race. Jockey Mike Smith stays aboard for trainer Phil D’Amato and they are a 26% combination.

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Tampa Bay Downs for Saturday, Nov. 28

Race 3: #2 Horn Buckle (5-1) 

This gelding reeled off three wins at this track last winter and trainer Victor Carrasco Jr. looks to strike on the first day of the new meet. Carrasco is 30% with horses moving down two of more classes.

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Race 6: #9 Ishaq (7-2)

Trainer Efren Loza Jr. is 44% with first-time starters like this son of Harlan’s Holiday and he employs jockey Pedro Cotto Jr., who has won 5-of-11 races for Loza this year. There are decent works showing and we think this one is ready to run.

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Race 9 : #2 Fascinante (7-2) 

Efren Loza Jr. is a high-percentage trainer in a lot of areas, including 35% with shippers like this 5-year-old mare, who is a perfect 2-for-2 over this turf course. Pedro Cotto Jr. rides another Loza.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

 

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Gulfstream Park West, Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita early opinions for Thursday, Oct. 22 (Plus Gulfstream Park West)

Race 4: #8 Easy Grader (6-1)

Apprentice Tyler Kennedy has four wins at the meet and is starting to get notice by other horsemen. This filly pressed the pace in her debut and finished fourth. Trainer Eddie Truman is 33% with beaten favorites and he’s 20% off a 31-60-day layoff.

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Race 5: #4 Madikwe (6-1)

Our Eyes: Not sure why trainer John Sadler ran him against winners but drops back into the maiden claiming ranks where he belongs. Jockey Santiago Gonzalez keeps the mount after having trouble at the start last time.

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Race 8: #6 Alpine Luck (6-1)

Our Eyes: This gelding gives his all and showed nice improvement last time over his favorite dirt track. He also has been popular at the claim box as Keith Desormeaux reclaims this 4-year-old.

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Gulfstream Park West

Race 6: #1 Cowtown Jane (4-1)

This filly is taking a class drop off a fifth-place finish in her debut. Trainer Jose Pinchin is 21% with horses making their second career starts. Apprentice jockey Harry Hernandez jumps on.

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Race 8: #1 Jakob’s Way (turf only) (4-1)

Trainer Efren Loza Jr. is 35% when bringing a horse back off a 46- to 90-day layoff like this 3-year-old. The gelding has won over this course in the past and there is a pair off good works coming into the race.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Belmont Park, Gulfstream Park, Horse racing, Los Alamitos

Los Alamitos (plus a few others) opinions for Saturday, July 4

Race 1: #6 Surfside Tiara (5-2)

Interesting jockey dynamic here as Martin Garcia rides No. 1 for trainer Bob Baffert, yet he doesn’t ride Baffert’s horse in this race. Instead, he jumps on this first-timer for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer (28% with firsters). The sire Scat Daddy is 27% with firsters.

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Race 9: #6 Lady Dash (12-1)

This filly broke her maiden over this track last year and should be plenty fit for trainer Rafael DeLeon while running in a route race last time. Hoping she is a horse for the course.

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BELMONT PARK

Race 8: #7 Postulation (10-1)

Trainer Dermot Weld sends this 3-year-old over from Ireland for Juddmonte Farms. Weld brings his own jockey in PJ Smullen.

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Race 10: #10 Outstanding (6-1)

Sticking with another European as trainer Aiden O’Brien sends this daughter of Galileo over from Ireland. She has won two straight and jockey C O’Donoghue knows her from her last victory.

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GULFSTREAM PARK

Race 4: #9 Live in Joy (4-1)

Trainer Efren Loza Jr. is doing his usual good job and winning at a high percentage. He is 35% with horses off a 46-90-day layoff and red-hot apprentice Tyler Gaffalione has the ride here.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Belmont Park, Churchill Downs, Gulfstream Park, Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita (plus a few others) opinions for June 26 (Friday)

Race 3: #8 Frac Candy (3-1)

This son of Twirling Candy is bred up and down to love two turns. Twirling Candy has already had one turf winner so that shouldn’t be an issue for the Desormeaux brothers (trainer Keith and jockey Kent).

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Race 4: #3 Lil Cheyenne (5-2)

This 5-year-old mare makes her second start off a long layoff. She comes out of a key race. Trainer Mark Glatt is 36% with moving a horse down two or more class levels and he puts top rider Rafael Bejarano (27% with Glatt) aboard.

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BELMONT PARK

Race 6: #3 Monster Mash (12-1)

Trainer Jeremiah Englehart is an amazing 37% when taking horses from turf to dirt. This 6-year-old is ITM 4-of-5 races he has run on a fast track and if it rains he’s a good mudder, too. Englehart is also 23% in the second race off the layoff and 24% in the allowance ranks. Jockey Rajiv Maragh takes over.

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CHURCHILL DOWNS

Race 9: #12 Ettaman (8-1)

Trainer George “Rusty” Arnold drops this 4-year-old colt off a third place effort to better. Arnold is 15% in the maiden claiming ranks and this son of Distorted Humor is coming out of a key race that has produced two winners so far.

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GULFSTREAM PARK

Race 4: #1 Right on Ready (4-1)

This gelding freaked last time winning his maiden claimer by nearly 8 lengths and trainer Oscar Gonzalez was right there to claim him. Gonzalez is 33% (5-for-15) first off the claim and even though this one is facing winners for the first time, he might be useful.

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Race 6: #2 Gukumatz (2-1)

This gelding is a stone-cold lock or it will run up the track in its first race in its first race in 15 months. Trainer Efren Loza Jr. had this son of Point Determined ready twice for his debut and off a layoff. We’re betting lock as Loza is 35% first time in a claiming race. This one certainly has the class edge.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Gulfstream Park, Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita opinions (plus a couple at Gulfstream) for Monday, May 25

Race 5: #2 Nob Hill (6-1)

This son of Curlin was a good third at the end of February but went to the sidelines. Trainer Bob Baffert puts the blinkers back on (34%) and jockey Victor Espinoza, of American Pharoah fame, retains the mount.

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Race 8: #8 Danza Cavallo (4-1)

Trainer Chad Brown ships West looking for a graded stakes win for this 4-year-old filly. Brown is 28% with shippers and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. keeps the mount, choosing this filly over another shipper, Hard Not to Like.

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Race 9: #12 Ladies Man (4-1)

This gelding ran an OK fourth in his career debut and now trainer Mike Puype drops him two levels, a move he is 4-for-5 with (80%). There are two big works since that start and jockey Tyler Baze stays aboard.

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Gulfstream Park

Race 1: #5 Gone as Wind (9-2)

Trainer Efren Loza Jr. is 38% the first time he puts a horse in a claiming race. On top of that, this horse comes out of a key at Tampa Bay Downs that has produced three winners already.

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Race 4: #1 Don’t Tell Vanessa (5-1)

Shippers from Tampa Bay Downs have done well across the country since the closing of the meet and this filly comes out of a race that has produced three winners so far and she drops from MSW to a maiden claiming while getting hot apprentice rider Tyler Gaffalione.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Tampa Bay Downs

Tampa Bay Downs opinions for Friday, March 27

Race 3: #1 Hundacareo

This 3-year-old finished second on the drop to maiden claimers and now shortens up in hopes of getting a win for trainer Efren Loza Jr. and jockey Antonio Gallardo..

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Race 9: #3 Bob and Jim

This 6-year-old had the lead at the top of stretch, but couldn’t hold it in his second race off the layoff. They say the third start is the best so jockey jockey Antonio Gallardo stays aboard for trainer Dennis Ward.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Tampa Bay Downs

Tampa Bay Downs opinions for Saturday, Feb. 28

Race 3: #4 First Dibs (5-2)

Obviously this 4-year-old gelding didn’t take to the turf last time. Trainer Efren Loza Jr. returns him to a sprint and he is 50% with that move. Leading jockey Antonio Gallardo keeps the mount on the class drop.

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Race 8: #8 Spoils of War (9-2)

Trainer James DiVito is 33% with first-time starters and the sire War Pass is 13% with firsters. Top jockey Antonio Gallardo takes the mount and he should be able to dictate the pass from the outside post.

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Race 11: #10 Overlock (5-1)

Trainer Eoin Harty has put in a couple of big works after this 3-year-olds sprint debut. He now stretchs the son of Street Cry around two turns and on the turf. Harty is 32% with jockey Antonio Gallardo.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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