Tag Archives: Mike Harrington

Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita opinions for Saturday, Feb. 4

Preview: Some rain on Friday, but only one race was taken off the turf which is a good sign for today’s card. At the start of the race week, Jerry Hollendorfer, Peter Miller and Richard Baltas led the way on the dirt with eight wins each. Doug O’Neill was right behind with seven winners. On the other end, Steven Knapp was 0-for-10 followed by Mike Harrington (1-18) and Sal Gonzalez (1-14), all of whom were having trouble winning races.

Race 4: #9 Amer Sista (6-1): Took money in her debut, but was off slow and then in right. Trainer Phil D’Amato puts blinkers on (22% move) and top turf rider Flavien Prat stays on and he’s 24% with D’Amato.

Race 6: #8 Fabozzi (6-1): This gelding is 3-2-0-1 at the distance. The 4-year-old is moving up in class but trainer Mark Glatt is 30% with horses that won their last race and that man Prat rides again on the turf. Prat is 27% with Glatt.

Race 8: #5 Mor Spirit (3-1): Pure and simple that try in the Malibu was a prep for this race by trainer Bob Baffert. This 4-year-old tries older horses for the first time, but Baffert is 27% going sprint to route and jockey Mike Smith stays aboard.

Race 9: #8 Perfectly Majestic (10-1): This gelding has beaten some of these before and has a record of 18-4-5-6 on the grass. Kent Desormeaux gets back on and he has had success with this 5-year-old in the past.

Good luck

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Los Alamitos

Los Alamitos RC opinions for Friday, April 22

Preview: There is actually a 10-horse field in the seventh race, which might be the first time at the meet. The first 2-year-old race of the season will occur with trainers Mike Harrington and Edward Freeman dominating the field. Harrington had three winners the first week of the meet to tie for leading trainer with Peter Eurton.

 

Race 4 – LRC

#1 Zeekid (5-1): This filly’s best race came in breaking her maiden over the track. Now trainer Jorge Gutierrez sends her around two turns and he is 20% going to sprint to a route.  

Race 6 – LRC

#1 Born to Serve (4-1): This gelding has plenty of early speed for trainer Jonathan Wong, who is 44% when he takes a horse from an All-Weather track to dirt.

 

Race 8 – LRC

#5 Love My Bud (6-1): This gelding broke his maiden over this track. Trainer Marty Jones is 22% with horses off a 46 to 90-day layoff. Jockey Kent Desormeaux, who been riding well, jumps on.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Los Alamitos

Los Alamitos RC opinion for Sunday, April 17

Preview: Another 8-race card on a weekend and the largest field is 7. How exciting? Despite the small fields, the average winning price over the first two days of the meet has been 5-1. Watch for trainer like Mike Harrington, who point for the this meet and train here year round. Harrington had two winners opening day. He has two horses in today’s first race, and one is a first-time starter, so I couldn’t separate them. Exacta box?

Sorry guys, the options are limited at LRC and I won’t force picks so one is all I have today and sorry it’s late. Issues at work. We did give you two winners Saturday, including a $24 horse.

 

Race 4 – LRC

#3 Margie’s Minute (6-1): At this meet I always look for horses for courses and this mare fits the bill. She is 5-1-2-1 over this track. Trainer Marty Jones is 22% with horses off a 46- to 90-day layoff and jockey Mario Gutierrez takes over.

@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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Horse racing, Los Alamitos

Los Alamitos thoroughbred picks for Friday, July 11

FIRST RACE: 1. Aerial Artist, 2. Time to Go Robo, 3. Electrolyte. LONG SHOT: Run Geocas Run.

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SECOND RACE: 1. Night Badger, 2. Valentine Boy, 3. Valdirone. LONG SHOT: Bob Consultation.

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THIRD RACE: 1. Saint Lemone (best bet), 2. Afleet Echo, 3. Ten in Excess. LONG SHOT: Todai Sing.

Northern California-based trainer John Martin claimed SAINT LEMONE, a 3-year-old filly, when she was pulled up and vanned off at Golden Gate Fields. She had a decent work the other day and Martin is 25% first off the claim.

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FOURTH RACE: 1. Freaky Floyd, 2. Keegers, 3. Naomi’s Gift. LONG SHOT: Yahootee.

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FIFTH RACE: 1. It’s Aine, 2. Puttybadshark, 3. Missy Marini. LONG SHOT: Tricky Liz.

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SIXTH RACE: 1. Omar Little, 2. Midnight Mayhem, 3. Baby Blake. LONG SHOT: Tribal Desert.

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SEVENTH RACE: 1. Tacit Approval, 2. Gelila, 3. Sheza Eyeopener. LONG SHOT: Always an Angel.

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EIGHTH RACE: 1. Raja’s Rose, 2. Cocabella Myst, 3. Indian Proof. LONG SHOT: Copper Ore.

This filly has a race over the track and is moving up in class for trainer Mike Harrington, who has been struggling this year. However, apprentice jockey Drayden Van Dyke, who won five times the first week at Los Alamitos, takes the mount and it could make all the difference.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

Thursday’s top choice winners: 0

Thursday’s second choice winners: 5 (Warren’s Tricia R. $5, first; Ya Wanna Hug $14.80, second; Diamonds Dena $20.40, fourth; Miss American Pie $18.60, sixth; Senator Bob $3.60, eighth)

Thursday’s third choice winners: 2 (Wackett $9.40, fifth; Crusher $7.80, seventh)

Thursday’s long shot winners: 0

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