Tag Archives: Harlan’s Holiday

Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita opinions for Sunday, Feb. 28

Preview: Plenty of turf races on the card. Phil D’Amato has been tearing it up on the grass with a 10-for-41 mark. He’s followed by Doug O’Neill (6-34), Richard Baltas (5-34), Paddy Gallagher (4-14) and shockingly Bob Baffert (4-10). On the other end are Neil Drysdale (1-24), Jim Cassidy (1-21), Jerry Hollendorfer (1-22) and Mark Glatt (0-19).

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Race 2 – SA        

#3 Noble Kent (7-2)

This gelding has been popular at the claim box and that’s probably due to four wins at Santa Anita. Trainer Jonathan Wong is 32% with beaten favorites and he moves this on up off the claim and he’s 22% first off the claim. Jockey Santiago Gonzalez jumps on.

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Race 5 – SA

#5 Holiday Mousse (8-1)

Trainer Doug O’Neill tries this son of Harlan’s Holiday around two turns for the first time and O’Neill is 17% with that move. Jockey Edwin Maldonado could have ridden another in this race but sticks here.

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Race 9 – SA

#5 Belle Et Bete (turf only) (5-1)

Trainer Phil D’Amato has done little wrong at the meet. He drops this filly in class but sends her around two turns, a move he is 27% with. Jockey Flavien Prat keeps the mount and he’s 38% with D’Amato.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar selections for Saturday, Aug. 22 (Pacific Classic Day)

FIRST RACE: 1. Skelton Pass, 2. Dream Team, 3. Colonial Power. LONG SHOT: Paiasolo.

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SECOND RACE: 1. Ranulf, 2. Life Is a Joy, 3. Sea Preacher. LONG SHOT: Biltmore Boogie.

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THIRD RACE: 1. #2 Another House (4-1), 2. Dylan Ward, 3. Blue Law. LONG SHOT: Chromium.

This 3-year-old got quite an education in his debut at Laurel. He ran into trouble and finished fifth for trainer Tom Proctor. Gary Stevens takes over so look for a big improvement.

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FOURTH RACE: 1. Kobe’s Back, 2. Appealing Tale, 3. Wild Dude. LONG SHOT: Turnover.

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FIFTH RACE: 1. #4 Henry’s Holiday (10-1), 2. Got Even, 3. Perfect Set. LONG SHOT: Tribal Jewel.

Finished second and was claimed by Ted West, who is 29% first off the claim. Tries two turns for the first time and should enjoy it being sired by Harlan’s Holiday. West is 2-for-3 with horses going sprint-sprint-route. Jockey Tyler Baze jumps on and he’s 24% with West.

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SIXTH RACE: 1. Procurement, 2. Twentytwentyvision, 3. Soi Phet. LONG SHOT: Southern Freedom.

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SEVENTH RACE: 1. Fabulous Lady, 2. Tiz a Tommy Town, 3. Annie’s Curls. LONG SHOT: Casino Call.

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EIGHT RACE: 1. #9 Danas Best (10-1), 2. Big John B, 3. Ashleyluvssugar. LONG SHOT: Power Ped.

Was fifth horse on the wire in his U.S. debut and now jumps into graded stakes company. Trainer Phil D’Amato is 20% second off the layoff and Joel Rosario jumps on.

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NINTH RACE: 1. #5 Red Vine (6-1) BEST BET, 2. Bayern, 3. Beholder. LONG SHOT: Imperative.

This 5-year-old has three wins and a second on the main track since leaving the grass. Owned by Jon and Sarah Kelly of Rancho Santa Fe so a win at their home track would be huge. Jockey Joel Rosario comes West to ride for Christophe Clement and they are 22% together. I couldn’t talk you off almost any horse in this race. It’s tough. It’s put up or shut up time for Bayern. Would love to see Beholder win, but just not sure about the distance despite fabulous workouts. Imperative is training well as is invader Class Leader.

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10TH RACE: 1. Roy H, 2. Native Treasure, 3. Labour. LONG SHOT: Mal Verde.

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11TH RACE: 1. Mike man’s Gold, 2. Buckleberry Grey, 3. Saint Prado. LONG SHOT: Oligarch.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

Friday’s top choice winners: 4 (Basmati $11.80, second race; True Ranger $15.20, fourth; Chief of Staff $4, fifth; Olympic Lady $6.60, seventh)

Friday’s second choice winners: 0

Friday’s third choice winners: 1 (Honey Lake $17.80, sixth)

Friday’s long shot winners: 0

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Gulfstream Park, Horse racing, Los Alamitos, Monmouth Park

Los Alamitos (plus a few others) opinions for Sunday, July 5

Race 3: #1 Sheza Eyeopener (5-1)

This 5-year-old mare won over this course three times last year in four tries. She returns to the dirt from the turf for trainer Rafael Becerra, who is 2-for-9 with the move. Jockey Martin Garcia keeps the mount.

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Race 8: #3 Ultimate Holiday (5-1)

Jockey Jimmy Graham makes his debut in SoCal today and rides this daughter of Harlan’s Holiday. The 3-year-old filly ran a creditable third over the track a year ago and trainer Richard Baltas is a 23% trainer this year.

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MONMOUTH PARK

Race 10: #6 Red Vine (3-1) *****

This 5-year-old broke his maiden on the turf at Del Mar a few years back and this year trainer Christophe Clement switched to the dirt and just like that he is 3-for-3. This horse is moving up the ladder  and think a win here propels him to Del Mar’s $1 million Pacific Classic. Likes to stay just off the pace and punce in the stretch. “Jersey” Joe Bravo retains the mount.

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Race 11: #8 Ashleyluvssugar (5-1)

SoCal-based trainer Peter Eurton switched this 4-year-old gelding to going long on the turf this year and discovered a star with a perfect 3-for-3. Eurton skipped the closing weekend San Juan Capistrano at Santa Anita to run here and Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens retains the mount for this closer .

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GULFSTREAM PARK

Race 10: #10 Nesso (20-1)

A long time ago, this filly broke her maiden in Southern California, but now runs on the East Coast. She is versatile, running on the front end or from off the pace. Think the pace could be hot here for look for jockey Jesus Rios to be closing in the lane. She ran well over this track a year ago. Beware.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita opinions for Sunday, April 26

Race 5: #4 Artistic Charm (4-1)

Got left in U.S. debut, but still managed to press the pace and just missed second. With run under her belt, should be right there, especially with Rafael Bejarano keeping the mount .

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Race 8: #9 Dually Affirmed (5-2)

This gelding is dropping to the bottom of the maiden claiming ranks for the first time for the Desormeaux brothers, jockey Kent and trainer Keith. He’s bred to love the distance (out of Harlan’s Holiday) so let’s hope he takes to the dirt and can find a trip from an outside post.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita selections for Sunday, Oct. 5

FIRST RACE: 1. Brazilian Court, 2. Hold Everything, 3. Caramuru. LONG SHOT: Mapping.

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SECOND RACE: 1. Justa Splash, 2. Vavoom, 3. Shackleford Banks. LONG SHOT: Thesheetsguy.

JUSTA SPLASH (5-1), a 3-year-old, gets a huge jockey switch from a 10-pound apprentice to Hall of Famer Alex Solis. The son of Harlan’s Holiday should like the dirt and already has proven he likes two turns.

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THIRD RACE: 1. Racing for Chasen, 2. Champion Risk, 3. Love the Kids. LONG SHOT: Wackett.

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FOURTH RACE: 1. Rule the Field, 2. Smart Journey, 3. City State. LONG SHOT: Itsgettinhotinhere.

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FIFTH RACE: 1. Eltoninadress, 2. Acute, 3. Courageousandbold. LONG SHOT: Goldilocks Planet.

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SIXTH RACE: 1. Luck of the Kitten (best bet), 2. Rowdy Dylan, 3. Dallas Skyline. LONG SHOT: Remo.

Obviously trainer Wesley Ward is trying to find out if  LUCK OF THE KITTEN (3-1), a 2-year-old, is good enough to run in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf after a second-place finish in a stakes at Kentucky Downs. The son of Kitten’s Joy figures to go to the front and great turf jockey Corey Nakatani will guide him for the first time.

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SEVENTH RACE: 1. Always a Chance, 2. Rovenna, 3. Sweet Marini. LONG SHOT: Only Josie Knows.

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EIGHTH RACE: 1. Her Emmynency, 2. Heart of Paradise, 3. Sea Mona. LONG SHOT: Into Oblivion.

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NINTH RACE: 1. Hot Lightning, 2. Conquest Dreamin, 3. All Around Brown. LONG SHOT: Guy Code.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

Saturday’s top choice winners: 1 (Compulsive $12.20, 10th race)

Saturday’s second choice winners: 1 (One Lucky Dane $3.40, sixth)

Saturday’s third choice winners: 1 (Rich Tapestry $16.80, eighth)

Saturday’s long shot winners: 1 (Jimmy Bouncer $9.40, second)

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