Tag Archives: Martin Garcia

Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar selections for Saturday, Aug. 27

Preview: The turf rails will be at 12 feet today so closers should have a shot. Jockeys Flavien Prat (16-for-69) and Rafael Bejarano (10-56) lead the way on the grass. Jockeys to avoid (maybe) are Stewart Elliott 1-for-26, Mike Smith 1-for-25 and Martin Garcia 0-21.

Race 1: 1. #3 Where’s Bubba (6-1) BEST BET, 2. Boompa, 3. Tomasino. LONG SHOT: Exemplar.

Trainer Bill Spawr is good a changing a horses distance. He is 36% when going from a route to a sprint and even more impressive when going sprint-route-sprint he is 56%.

Race 2: 1. Above Board, 2. Latest Craze, 3. Counturluckystars. LONG SHOT: Cavalry.

Race 3: 1. Masochistic, 2. Indexical, 3. Vyjack.

Race 4: 1. Vartan, 2. Dream It Do It, 3. Moose Skowron. LONG SHOT: Dynamic Scoring.

Race 5: 1. #3 Lauren’s Export (12-1), 2. Dust It, 3. Leveler. LONG SHOT: Anythingcanhappen.

Trainer Carla Gaines is 23% when debuting a horse on the turf and this daughter of Lonhro has three straight big works coming into the race. Lonhro is 13% with first-time turfers.

Race 6: 1. Hell On Heels, 2. Krisie’s Heart, 3. Passionate Emotion. LONG SHOT: Dragon Flowerr.

Race 7: 1. Nodiac, 2. Do the Dance, 3. How Unusual. LONG SHOT: Patriotic Diamond.

Race 8: 1. #5 How About Zero (6-1), 2. Miss Sunset, 3. You’re Late. LONG SHOT: I’ll Be Around.

We have seen trainer Doug O’Neill do this before: start a first-time maiden in a stakes race and he has won. This is a daughter of Square Eddie, who gets 16% winners first time out and barn jockey Mario Gutierrez takes the ride.

Race 9: 1. #8 Hansen Tale Blues (10-1), 2. Life’s Blessings, 3. Lovely Linda. LONG SHOT: Soul Singer.

Trainer Victor Garcia is 12% with first-time starters and he always seems to cash a bomber for his father King Juan Garcia, who races under the name Lucky Charm Stable. This son of Hansen has been training steadily and the sire gets 14% first time out. Follow the money.

Race 10: 1. American Aristocat, 2. Temple Keys, 3. Anatolian. LONG SHOT: Over Par.

Good luck

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar selections for Wednesday, July 27

Preview: For those that haven’t noticed, the main track has been playing to speed. If you get the lead, you win and if you have the lead at the head of the stretch you are long gone. The track was due.to be dug up on Monday after training hours so what that means this week is anyone’s guess. By my count, only three or four closers have won the dirt. Maybe that will change today so be sure to watch the early races.

Race 1: 1. Ipray, 2. Kristinite, 3. Toppers Sunshine. LONG SHOT: Wahine Warrior.

Rac 2: Downside Up, 2. Westmont, 3. Amazing Love. LONG SHOT: Ninety Nine Proof.

Race 3: 1. #6 Ultimate Holiday (6-1), 2. Bendable, 3. Luminance. LONG SHOT: Diabolical Dame.
This race came up tough for a non-winners of two allowance test. This filly has been training lights out as the pair of bullet works prove for trainer Richard Baltas, who is 21% with horses off a layoff of 61 to 180 days.Look for this filly to make one run for jockey Tyler Baze

Race 4: 1. #1 Sirocco Strike (5-1), 2. All Indians, 3. Louden’s Gray. LONG SHOT: Go Vo.
This gelding has been away from the races for more than 18 months, but he has done well at Del Mar before. There is a nice work for trainer Jeff Mullins last week and Mullins is 21% with horses in for a tag for the first time. On top of that, turf wizard Flavien Prat is aboard.

Race 5: 1. She’s a Warrior, 2. Summertimemischier, 3. Leveler. LONG SHOT: Sid the Squid.

Race 6: 1. Kennedie Sky, 2. Brookes All Mine, 3. Do the Dance. LONG SHOT: Watch the Cat.

Race 7: 1. #2 Smokey Image (7-2), 2. Mrazek, 3. Tribal Fighter. LONG SHOT: Taman Guard.
Trainer Carla Gaines got a bad case of Kentucky Derby fever with this 3-year-old and his performances suffered. Now he is back with his friends (Cal breds), where he is 3-for-3 against, including two wins at Del Mar last summer. This race is full of speed so jockey Martin Garcia must exercise patience. Absolutely the toughest race on the card.

Race 8: 1. #3 Mooney Makin Mike (8-1), 2. Alston, 3. Candy Cowboy. LONG SHOT: Ring Collector.
This colt was claimed out of his last race from trainer Doug O’Neill by trainer Steve Knapp. This is the only situation we will play Knapp as he is 47% first off his last 15 claims. This 3-year-old likes to be near the front, which is good on this track and red-hot jockey Santiago Gonzalez takes over.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

Sunday’s top choice winners: 4 (Back beauty $4.40, first race; Hard Caes $2.80, fourth; Coyote Fly $18.20, sixth; Dream Team $3.40, seventh)

Sunday’s second choice winners: 1 (Zinvor $14.80, 10th)

Sunday’s third choice winners: 0

Sunday’s long shot winners: 2 (Avenge $21.20, second; Midnight Pleasure $43,80, ninth)

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Belmont Park, Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita opinions for Friday, June 10 (Plus Belmont Park stakes)

Preview: Just two turf races on the card and the rails at 30 feet so speed will likely dominate. Jockeys to avoid on the grass right now are Drayden Van Dyke (1-for-25), Edwin Maldonado (1-28) and Martin Garcia (0-19). We had two winners and third-place horse on Thursday.

Race 3 – SA
#3 Hayley’s Comment: Just gave an even effort in her debut and now go two turns. Red-hot Flavien Prat takes over in the saddle and trainer Kristin Mulhall is 21% going from sprint to route.

Race 5 – SA
#8 Aqua Frio: Trainer Blaine Wright has a couple of good works into this son of Uncle Mo, who gets 20% first time out winners. Jockey Tyler Baze jumps on and is 30% with Wright.

Race 8 – SA
#5 Tuscan Sun: It won’t take a world-beater to wins this lowest level maiden claimer so why not go with a first-timer. Cyclotron gets 20% first-time out winners and trainer Karen Headley is 31% with maiden claimers and 25% with jockey Edwin Maldonado.

BELMONT PARK

Race 3 (Rags to Riches): 1. Joint Return, 2. Theogony, 3. Mei Ling. LONG SHOT: Stroke Play.

Race 4 (The Tremont): 1. Lady Stardust, 2. Silver Mission, 3. Hey Mike. LONG SHOT: Pachi Cruze.

Race 5 (The Jersey Girl): 1. Kareena, 2. Blip n’ Th Bye, 3. Quick Release. LONG SHOT: One True Kiss.

Race 8 The True North): 1. Catalina Red, 2. Joking, 3. Holy Boss. LONG SHOT: Always Sunshine.

Race 9 (The New York): 1. Dacita, 2. Sea Calisi, 3. Havana Moon. LONG SHOT: Kyllachy Queen.

Race 10 (Belmont Gold Cup): 1. Now We Can, 2. Kaigun, 3. Up With the Bird. LONG SHOT: Closing Bell.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita opinions for Thursday, June 9

Preview: Not the best of cards. Remember no more downhill turf races due to renovation but they will go two turns on the grass. Speaking of the turf, Flavien Prat is lapping the jockeys with 16 wins on the green stuff from 46 mounts for 35% winning percentage and he’s in-the-money 59%. Next closest is Rafael Bejarano with 8 wins from 43 mounts and in the money 56% of the time.

Race 2 – SA
#7 Grand Prix (6-1): Trainer Gary Mandella gets wins 20% of the time from his first-time starters. This is a daughter of Tale of the Cat, who wins 16% of the time with his FTS. Good dirt jockey Martin Garcia rides.

Race 6 – SA
#5 Fast Magoo (4-1): Trainer Rosemary Trela doesn’t have many horses and she’s 0-for-6 this year, but she was injured earlier and is back in charge now. This mare has been smokin’ in workouts at San Luis Rey Downs and has a 9-2-2-2 record over the track. Trela is 26% on dirt, 25% in sprints and 38% in claimers.

Race 8 – SA
#6 Proud ‘n’ Ready (4-1): Trainer Peter Eurton drops this filly into a maiden claimer for the first time, a move he is 43% with. He also gets that turf maven Flavien Prat to ride so we’re looking for a huge effort in the 3-year-olds first time around two turns.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita opinions for Saturday, May 28

Race 6: #3 Runaway Wildcat (10-1): One of the few non-stakes races on the card here with these cheap claimers. This gelding has won three times in the past at Santa Anita and trainer Lorenzo Ruiz is 3-for-5 with horses third off the layoff. He is also 31% with jockey Vinny Bednar.

Race 8: #7 Rocko’s Wheel (5-1): We have talked many times about trainer Phil D’Amato and the year (23% winners) he is having. Here he drops this colt back in with state breds after facing open company for three straight races. D’Amato is 28% with horses third off the layoff and 28% when he goes two sprints to a route race. Jockey Martin Garcia, who is 32% with D’Amato jumps on.

Race 10: #8 Singing Kitty (4-1): This filly has carved out a nice career on the grass. She is 3-for-8 on the Santa Anita green and has some back class that could be tough in her first race back since March. Trainer Matthew Chew is 21% with horses off a 46 to 90-day layoff and he’s 25% in nongraded stakes. Jockey Rafael Bejarano jumps on.

Race 11: #2 Flaming Vixen (4-1): Trainer Richard Baltas puts the blinkers on this filly after a disappointing effort as the even-money favorite. Baltas is 34% with beaten favorites and 36% first-time blinkers.

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Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita opinions for Thursday, May 5

Preview: There is a chance of rain for the return to Santa Anita so the turf races could be in danger of coming off. It’s looks like Rafael Bejarano is new top rider for the Bob Baffert barn after a falling out with jockey Martin Garcia. Also top jocks will be missing for much of this week to ride in Kentucky for the Oaks and the Derby.

                                

Race 6 – SA

#3 Emmzy (5-2): This filly from the Bob Baffert barn cuts back a half-furlong, which is a little surprising knowing haw the trainer likes to stretch them out. Rafael Bejarano takes the mount and he’s tough to beat in the stretch.

                   

Race 7 – SA

#4 Tribal Again (6-1): There is a ton of speed in this race and this gelding seems like the only one that come from off the pace. There is a big jockey upgrade to Flavien Prat, who is 24% with trainer Peter Miller.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita opinions for Friday, April 8

Preview: Make sure you check your mud ratings because it looks like Arcadia is going to get with plenty of rain on the final weekend of the meet so it’s doubtful the turf course will get any use until next month.

                                

Race 2 – SA

#6 Maid Easy (10-1): Trainer Kory Owens puts blinkers on this filly and he changes to apprentice jockey David Lopez. Another plus is that sire Top Hit gets 29% winners on an off track.

                   

Race 6 – SA

#3 Latest Craze (3-1): This colt takes a drop in class for trainer Bob Baffert and regular barn rider Martin Garcia jumps back on. The son of Super Saver has the top Brisnet Class and Prime Ratings plus a 21% win rate on a wet track..

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita opinions for Friday, Jan. 15

Preview: Turf races again seem to hold the most intrigue. On the training front, Richard Baltas has been reaching the winner’s circle plenty of times and Peter Eurton’s horses are hitting the board with great regularity. Also, Bob Baffert’s barn has hit a hot spell after cold few weeks.

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Race 2: #2 Dauphine Russe (turf only) (5-2)

Trainer David Jacobsen, who is based in New York, has a string here this winter. This mare will make her first trip down the hill and Jacobsen is 25% second off the claim and with shippers. Martin Garcia picks up the mount.

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Race 5: #1 El Gran Turismo (turf only) (8-1)

At some point this gelding’s breeding has to kick in as his mother is Cambioscorsa, who was a monster on this downhill course. He had a tough debut but jockey Flavien Prat takes over for trainer Mike Puype.

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Race 7: #6 Precious Audrey (turf only) (6-1)

This filly broke her maiden at Gulfstream Park West and looks like a private purchase and sent to trainer Phil D’Amato, who is 25% going dirt to turf and 20% first time turf.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Gulfstream Park West, Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita early opinions for Sunday, Oct. 25 (plus Gulfstream Park West)

Race 4: #4 Blessherheart (7-2)

Trainer Phil D’Amato drops this filly into a maiden claimer for the first time, a move he is 29% with. She showed speed going long and now cuts back to 7 furlongs. Jockey Tiago Pereira jumps on and he is 27% with D’Amato at Santa Anita.

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Race 6: #4 Cant Do the Danse (4-1)

Trainer Jonathan Wong claimed this gelding at Golden Gate and ships south. Wong is a 47% trainer on dirt and 30% with horses off a 46 to 90-day layoff. Wong employs red-hot apprentice Ty Kennedy.

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Race 9: #6 Lucky Reality (5-1)

Young trainer Dan Blacker doesn’t start many, but this is his best move: going from MSW to maiden claiming. He’s 50% with this move and this gelding finished second at Del Mar in the maiden claiming ranks at a higher level. Jockey Martin Garcia knows the 3-year-old well.

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Gulfstream Park West 

Race 2: #5 E Z’s Irishman (8-1)

Was bet down to 7-2 in debut, but didn’t do much running. Trainer Larry Pilotti is 28% with horses making their second career start. Apprentice jockey Harry Hernandez jumps on for a weight break.

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Race 5: #1 Morning Calm (turf only) (7-2)

Our Eyes: This colt finished 6th in the John’s Call at Saratoga and now takes a class drop. Also, that race has produced three next out winners. Trainer Michelle Nihei is 21% with horses off a 46 to 90-day layoff.

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Race 9 – GPW

#6 Set On Salsa (turf only) (8-1) ***

Our Eyes: Trainer Kathy Mongeon ships this filly down from New Jersey where the 4-year-old comes out of a race that has produced three next out winners. Leading jockey Tyler Gaffallione takes the mount.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Gulfstream Park West, Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita opinions for Saturday, Oct. 24

Race 4: #7 City of Vengeance (15-1)

Has been a disappointment since coming West, but trainer John Sadler is 22% second off the claim as the gelding tries the downhill for the first time. Jockey Victor Espinoza jumps off another contender to ride this son of City Zip and is 21% with Sadler.

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Race 6: #8 Oppidum (5-1)

If it’s a 2-year-old race trainer Bob Baffert usually has it surrounded and such is the case here with three horses. The barn’s main rider, Martin Garcia, chooses this son of Speightstown who showed good speed at Del Mar before stopping. He goes shorter here and should be on the engine.

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Race 9: #7 Canada (4-1)

Is bred to be a good one, but has had problems in both starts, especially last time, but Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens has seen enough to stay aboard and he is 26% with trainer Simon Callaghan.

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Gulfstream Park West

Race 1: #2 Drama Club (5-2)

This colt makes his debut on turf, but the bigger thing is that he drops from the straight maiden ranks to a maiden claimer. Trained by David Fawkes, he exits a race that has produced three winners. Jockey Edgard Zayas takes over.

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Race 7: #10 Awesome Sunrize (turf only) (6-1)

This filly returns to South Florida after running at Arlington Park. She comes out of a key race and trainer Kerry Zavash is 24% with shippers. Zavash has a winner already at the meet with jockey Eddie Castro, who jumps on.

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Race 9: #1 Samus (turf only) (5-1)

Trainer Marcus Vitali has been on fire at the meet with 6 winners from 20 starters. Vitali is 25% with horses second time in his care like this 3-year-old. He is also 30% on the year with jockey Matthew Rispoli.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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