Tag Archives: Graham Motion

Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar selections for Thursday, Nov. 22 (First post 11 a.m.)

FIRST RACE: 1. November Tale, 2. Bombilate, 3. You’re A Goat. LONG SHOT: Scandal.
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SECOND RACE: 1. LINE DRIVE (best bet), 2. Sauce On Side, 3. Condi. LONG SHOT: Pure Sugar.
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THIRD RACE: 1. Gio’s Calling, 2. Holiday Stone, 3. A Red Tie Day. LONG SHOT: Troublewithatee.
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FOURTH RACE: 1. Sea’s Journey, 2. Catfish Hunter, 3. Thankful Every Day. LONG SHOT: Insubordination.
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FIFTH RACE: 1. Majestic Eagle, 2. Peace, 3. He’s Stylish. LONG SHOT: Longden.
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SIXTH RACE: 1. Earring, 2. Birdie Gold, 3. Responsibleforlove. LONG SHOT: How Unusual.
Just a not here: Lottie drew post No. 14 for this race (moving in to No. 13 following a scratch on Wednesday), but trainer Graham Motion was so unhappy with the draw, he entered her against the boys on Friday. I think he will run her Friday, but if he stays in this spot give her a strong look despite the post.
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SEVENTH RACE: 1. Psycho Dar, 2. Royal Trump, 3. Warrior’s Lullaby. LONG SHOT: Bob’s All In.
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EIGHTH RACE: 1. Golden Kitten, 2. Achira, 3. Red Shelby. LONG SHOT: Delectable.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Good luck.

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Horse racing, Tampa Bay Downs

Tampa Bay Downs opinions for Sunday, Feb. 21

Preview: Not a bad card. The smallest field is in the first with just seven horses. Trainer Tom Proctor has won 3 of his last 9 starters while his usual jockey Brian Pedroza is 3 for his last 10 starts. Big long shots on Friday’s card. Let’s hope it continues.

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Race 1: #6 Misty Steps (15-1)

 Trainer Anthony Granitz has done well here in the last in dirt route races. This filly is trying two turns for the first time in a long time, but Granitz is 14% going sprint to route. This 4-year-old has Brisnet’s best late pace rating.

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Race 6: #2 Glencoe Girl (turf only) (12-1) 

Trainer Graham Motion tried to get this filly on the turf first time out but it was taken off and she still finished third on the dirt. The race is under her belt and now Motion adds Lasix and he’s 23% first time Lasix. The sire Giant’s Causeway is 9% first time turf.

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Race 7: #4 Jersey Blue Giant (6-1) 

This gelding has won 5 of 7 on the main tack here. Trainer Joe Woodard is 25% third off the layoff and jockey Angel Serpa keeps the mount.

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Race 8: #6 Captain Kitten (turf only) (12-1)

This 3-year-old broke his maiden at first asking on the turf at Delaware Park. Trainer Steve Epley Jr. brings him down for his first start of 2016 and he is 27% with horses off a 90-plus day layoff and he gets good turf jockey Daniel Centeno.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita opinions for Saturday, Feb. 20

Preview: Interesting card with the highly anticipated debut of Ziconic, a son of Zenayata, set to run in what looks like a tough maiden race in the third.

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Race 2: #4 Decisive Triumph (turf only) (8-1) 

Trainer Graham Motion doesn’t have a win at the meet yet, but he’s too good not to score eventually. This son of Kitten’s Joy should love this distance and surface. Motion adds Lasix and he’s 23% first time he does that plus he adds leading jockey Rafael Bejarano.

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Race 3: #2 Fast Munny (6-1)

This is the race with Zenyatta’s son, Ziconic, plus two horses trained by Bob Baffert and one trained by Jerry Hollendorfer so this could turn out to be a key race. We’re going with the son of Munnings and trained by Craig Dollase, who is 26% with first-time starters. I know the connections are high on this 3-year-old colt, but like I said it’s a tough heat. Flavien Prat rides and he’s 2-for-4 with Dollase.

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Race 7: #9 I’m Zonin (8-1) 

This gelding is in the money 60% (3 for 5) at this distance. Trainer Richard Baltas is 30% going sprint-route-sprint meaning that this 4-year-old should have plenty of stamina. Veteran jockey Stewart Elliott gets the mount.

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FAIRGROUNDS

Race 11 (Grade II Risen Star Stakes: 1.#4 Bistraya (15-1), 2. #10 Airoforce (5-2), 3. #13 Candy My Boy (15-1), 4. #6 Gun Runner (6-1). LONG SHOT: #7 Its All Relevent (15-1).

It’s time for the 50-point races on the Kentucky Derby trail so a win in any of these races pretty much gets you in the starting gate on the first Saturday of May. We’re going with an upset here as Bistraya ships in off a maiden victory in Southern California. Jockey Edwin Maldonado comes along for the ride. Candy My Boy is interesting but that post is a killer.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

 

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Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita opinions for Saturday, Feb. 6

Preview: Big Saturday card with four stakes on the program. Of course, Songbird will be everyone’s single and it’s hard to see her losing for the first time in her career.

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Race 3: #4 Echo Chamber (6-1)

The turf course has been playing to speed for most of the meet. Trainer Peter Miller trains for speed so we think this first-timer with Flavien Prat will go straight to the front and not stop down the hill. The sire Majesticperfection is 19% with first-time turfers.

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Race 6: #8 Tuco (6-1) 

This gelding showed speed in his U.S. debut, but tired to finish fourth. This time the gelding will run a furlong shorter. Trainer Doug O’Neill is 20% third off a layoff and 20% with jockey Falvien Prat.

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Race 7: #2 Donworth (6-1) ***

This isn’t the toughest Grade II event we’ve ever seen so let’s go with a fresh face. This 4-year-old was bought at auction by Reddman Racing and turned over to trainer Doug O’Neill, who is 18% with horses first time in his barn (the colt was formerly with Graham Motion). Jockey Mario Gutierrez, who is 23% with O’Neill, jumps on and likely will try to go wire-to-wire.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita opinions for Saturday, Jan. 2

Race 2: #2 Iambic (6-1)

Trainer Graham Motion has sent a string west this winter. This colt had no early speed in his turf debut in New York, but has the best late pace rating from Brisnet. Jockey Drayden Van Dyke knows how to ride this turf course.

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Race 6: #4 Pulling G’s (5-1)

This gelding made his stakes debut with a fourth in the Fall Highweight at Aqueduct for trainer John Shirreffs, who returns home for the winter. There is a ton of speed in here which should set it up for jockey Victor Espinoza and this 6-year-old.

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Race 9: #5 Architop (9-2)

This gelding has the top early Brisnet pace rating and drops to his lowest lever for trainer Richard Mandella, who is 32% third off the layoff and 25% with the addition of blinkers.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

 

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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar selections for Friday, Aug. 21

FIRST RACE: 1. Good Looking, 2. I’m a Drama Mama, 3. Vronsky’s Devka. LONG SHOT: Daddy’s Sweetie.

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SECOND RACE: 1. Basmati, 2. Saint Adalbert, 3. Mistaken Identity. LONG SHOT: Sacred Ovation.
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THIRD RACE: 1. #8 Trifecta (5-2), 2. Lovenseek, 3. Dynamite Ride. LONG SHOT: A Colt Following.

Trainer Phil D’Amato claimed this 3-year-old out of an off-the-turf affair the first weekend of the meet and brings him back at the same level. D’Amato is 25% first off the claim and 22% with jockey Joe Talamo.

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FOURTH RACE: 1. #9 True Ranger (6-1), 2. Nusret, 3. Kelly With a Twist. LONG SHOT: Outrage.

Trainer Dan Hendricks was 46% with maiden claimers at Del Mar coming into this meet. This 2-year-old finished third in his SoCal debut from New Jersey and now drops a level plus Hendricks puts blinkers on.

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FIFTH RACE: 1. Chief of Staff, 2. Storm Comin Thru, 3. Prince Charmant. LONG SHOT: Nina’s Dragon.
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SIXTH RACE: 1. #3 DIDO (5-2) BEST BET, 2. Circling, 3. Honey Lake. LONG SHOT: One More.

Trainer Graham Motion doesn’t ship West much so when he does it’s with a purpose. The big question is whether this is a prep for a race later in the meet or the main objective? This 5-year-old mare comes out of a Belmont Park key race that produced a graded stakes winner at Saratoga last week.

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SEVENTH RACE: 1. Olympic Fashion, 2. Katsfashion, 3. Warren’s Honey Bee. LONGSHOT: Katy’s Plum.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

Thursday’s top choice winners: 2 (Belle Et Bete $6.20, first race; Dream Police $7.60, second)

Thursday’s second choice winners: 2 (Some Caan Job $4, fourth; Herbies Thunder $7.60, eighth)

Thursday’s third choice winners: 2 (Rocket Heat $7.40, third; Golden Bayers $9.60, sixth)

Thursday’s long shot winners: 0

 

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Belmont Park, Gulfstream Park, Horse racing, Los Alamitos

Los Alamitos (plus a few other) opinions for Saturday, July 11

LOS ALAMITOS

Race 3: #3 Caliente Cat (3-1): This gelding loves this track and moves from the nighttime programs to the daytime and a bigger purse. Jockey Gary Boag knows this speedball well and trainer Justin Clark is 44% with horses that won their last race.

Race 7: #8 Watdifrenzdzitmake (6-1):  Will have to navigate from an outside post going long, but trainer Phil D’Amato has been pushing a lot of right buttons this year. D’Amato is 29% third off the layoff, which is what this 3-year-old filly is.

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BELMONT PARK

Race 8: #8 Midnight Trace (12-1): This gelding broke his maiden first out on the turf and finished third on the grass in an allowance race, but then was tried on Polytrack, since he was an Ontario-bred. He returns to the grass today for trainer Graham Motion, who is 18% with shippers, and we love Scat Daddys on the grass.

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Race 10: #10 Puparee (5-1):  This filly broke her maiden in her first time on the grass and comes right back against winners for trainer Dominick Schettino, who is 17% with maiden winners right back. Jockey Jose Ortiz rides right back after making a huge move on the turn.

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GULFSTREAM PARK

Race 8: #4 Hear That Tune (4-1): Throw out this 3-year-old’s last race. He just doesn’t like off tracks. The race one back was sensational while just missing the win. Trainer Stanley Gold is 29% with beaten favorites and he is 3-for-8 with jockey Eddie Castro over the last 60 days.

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Race 9: #11 Proper Empire (6-1): This 6-year-old moves up in class, but trainer Luis Ramirez is 48% with horses second off the layoff and 29% when a horse is second time in his care. Apprentice Harry Hernandez must work a trip from the outside but look for him to close down the lane.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Belmont Park, Horse racing, Los Alamitos

Los Alamitos (and Belmont) opinions for Thursday, July 2

Race 1: #1 Zees Chris (10-1)

Our Eyes:  Jockey Drayden Van Dyke was the king of Los Alamitos last year, granted he had a 5-pound weight allowance, but he hasn’t forgotten how to ride. Van Dyke jumps on this long shot for trainer Mike Harrington and we’ll take a flyer. I’m kind of stunned Van Dyke only has three mounts on the card. Why would trainers put no name jockeys on their mounts instead of a jockey who dominated this track last year? Just plain stupid. 

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Race 3: #1 Warm Endowment (7-2)

Van Dyke jumps on this first-timer starter for trainer Dean Pederson, who is 23% with firsters. This daughter of Unusual Heat (9% with first timers) has been training well at Los Alamitos and should be ready to go.

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Race 7: #4 Magic Mark (15-1)

This gelding had a third over the track last year and now trainer Ron Ellis has him third off the layoff (31%). Van Dyke jumps on and he is 32% with Ellis.

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BELMONT PARK

Race 6: #3 Messi (4-1)

Trainer Graham Motion is 32% with horses making their U.S. debuts. This one was suppose to run last week, but it was rained off the turf. Motion adds Lasix and has gelded the horse since its last race.

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Race 8: #5 Can’thelpbelieving (8-1)

Trainer Graham Motion gave this colt a confidence builder with a win at Parx. Top jockey Javier Castellano takes the mount.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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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, Santa Anita

Santa Anita (plus a few others) opinions for Sunday, June 14

Race 5: #5 Silver Spirit (5-1)

This 4-year-old has made all of his career starts on the grass and now trainer Julio Canani decides it’s time to try the dirt. Canani puts the blinkers back on, a move he is 43% with. There is a good work over the track, probably with the blinkers back on. Jockey Alex Solis rides.

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Race 7: #3 Clever Royal (turf only)

Trainer Eddie Truman is having one of the best meets of his career and he has been unconscious with horses coming down the hill. This colt won his first race on that course in his last and figures to only improve as Truman is 36% third off the layoff.

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Race 9: #9 True Image (turf only) (4-1)

Our Eyes:  This gelding showed big improvement when put on the turf last time, losing by just two lengths down the hill. The 3-year-old tries the downhill again and Flavien Prat will know this presser better for trainer Mike Machowsky.

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BELMONT PARK

Race 8: #8 My Year Is a Day (turf only) (6-1)

This filly was thought to be hot stuff when she ran in the Edgewood at Churchill as she was bet down to 2-1, but she fought her rider. She’s had a month between races and maybe trainer Graham Motion has gotten her to settle down.

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GULFSTREAM PARK

Race 6: #8 Mischievevouscharlie (10-1)

This 3-year-old filly ran her best career race two back sprinting on the main track. Trainer James McMullen goes back to the well here as a sends her route-to-sprint, a move he is 35% with and she has a decent work coming into the race.

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Race 8: #9 Biggest Drama (5-1)

This 2-year-old colt comes out of a maiden race where the first two horses to run have won so we’re hoping for 3-for-3.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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