Tag Archives: Mike Puype

Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar selections for Wednesday, Aug. 24

Preview: Not the best of cards, but at least they have a maiden grass sprint. Heading into the final two weeks of the meet, the jockeys’ race appears to be a three-horse race: Flavien Prat 28-146, Rafael Bejarano 25-122 and Santiago Gonzalez 23-160..

Race 1: 1. #2 Fruity (7-2), 2. Desert Madam, 3. Take It Easyplease. LONG SHOT: Ipray.
Jockey Flavien Prat jumps on this filly, which tries two turns on the dirt for the first time. Trainer Matthew Chew claimed her out of her last and drops her into this spot off a win over the track.

Race 2: 1. Magic Tatse, 2. Silver Chrome, 3. Citori. LONG SHOT: Footloos Indy Lane.

Race 3: 1. Eddie’s Turn, 2. Eight Spokes, 3. Never Say Try. LONG SHOT: Pulla Train.

Race 4: 1. #6 Moonlight Blue (4-1), 2. Three Eclipse, 3. Sorry Erik. LONG SHOT: Ucanthankmelater.
Most of the 2-year-olds in this race are going around two turns for the first time. This gelding has been running in Florida and looks for the Ship ‘N Win bonus. Trainer Vladimir Cerin is 21% first time with a horse and 20% with horses off a 31 to 60-day layoff. This one also drops into a maiden claimer for the first time.

Race 5: 1. Soi Phet, 2. The Gomper, 3. Kristo. LONG SHOT: Grazen Sky.

Race 6: 1. #5 Schwary’s Girl (6-1) BEST BET, 2. Lori’s Attitude, 3. Could Be Magic. LONG SHOT: White Rock Lake.
Love the Australian sire Lonhro, especially on the turf where he gets 14% winners first time out. This filly has a good last work and trainer Mike Puype is 20% with jockey Stewart Elliott.

Race 7: 1. Blue Tone, 2. Conquest Cobra, 3. Avanti Bello. LONG SHOT: War Envoy.

Race 8: 1. Sidepocket Run, 2. Revenue Virginius, 3. Hennythelovepenny. LONG SHOT: Desert Thief.

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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar selections for Sunday, Aug. 21

Preview: Very good card, except for the Del Mar Mile, which drew just five horses, but Del Mar was smart enough to keep it out of the Pick 6. I’ll go out on the limb and say there will be a carryover into next week.

Race 1: 1. #6 Bohemian Bliss (6-1), 2. Cyclone Betty, 3. Ratera. LONG SHOT: Royal Flush Babe.
Trainer Mike Puype is 63% when he drops a horse two or more class levels. He drops this filly to the bottom of the maiden claiming ranks after a troubled sixth. At least one horse has come to win out of that race and jockey Tyler Baze stays aboard.

Race 2: 1. #5 Northern Iowa (6-1), 2. Winning Causeway, 3, Emmett Park. LONG SHOT: L’s Choice.
Trainer Vladimir Cerin moves this gelding from an open claimer to a non-winners of three for a slightly higher claiming price. He also secures the services of leading rider Flavien Prat. Cerin is 22% when a horses goes sprint-sprint-route race.

Race 3: 1. Pee Wee Reese, 2. Hot Rodin, 3. Son of a Royal. LONG SHOT: Martini Up.

Race 4: 1. Midnight Storm, 2. Om, 3. Little Curlin. LONG SHOT: Ambitious Brew.

Race 5: 1. #1 Princess Kendra (4-1), 2. Late ‘n Left, 3. Stand by for News. LONG SHOT: Truly Ponti.
Trainer Bill Spawr is 34% first off the claim, but likes to bring horses back sooner than this. Still Spawr is 21% off a 46 to 90-day layoff and this one had a troubled trip in last but Kent Desormeaux sticks. This filly is taking a drop in class from an open claimer to a non-winners of two. Sneaky.

Race 6: 1. #5 Sky Preacher (12-1), 2. Hat Dude, 3. Comes the Deam. LONG SHOT: Street Moxie.
Another horse coming off a troubled third, but trainer Richard Baltas moves him up. Baltas is 28% second off the claim. Jockey Norberto Arroyo has been sneaky good on the grass this meet.

Race 7: 1. #4 The Rule of King’s (8-1), 2. Irish Freedom, 3. Honor and Courage. LONG SHOT: Royal Mo.
This is a tough 2-year-old race but we’re going with a price as this colt has come out of a couple of highly rated races, losing to Best Pal Stakes winner Klimt and Chasing Aces, who might be the closing-day Futurity favorite.

Race 8: 1. Kentuckian BEST BET, 2. Navy Hymn, 3. Celebrated Talent. LONG SHOT: Alabama Tide.

Race 9: 1. Eric the Trojan, 2. Schillaireess, 3. Tiz a Billy. LONG SHOT: Gutsy Ruler.

Race 10: 1. #3 Celebrity Status (5-1), 2. Swiss Cheese, 3. Pat the Bear. LONG SHOT: Ain’t No Other.
This gelding is claimed back by trainer Peter Miller and owner Rockingham Ranch. Miller is 32% first off the claim and jockey Rafael Bejarano rides back.

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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar selections for Friday, Aug. 5 (4 p.m. first post)

Preview: Just an OK card for a weekday. Phil D’Amato leads all trainers with 5 wins on the grass. Surprisingly a trio of trainers are struggling on the green: Doug O’Neill 0-12, Mike Puype 0-11 and Jerry Hollendorfer 0-11. Either they will get hot or continue the cold streak. You decide.

Race 1: 1. Feel Freely, 2. Red Apple, 3. Ravizzone. LONG SHOT: Miss Bula Bula.

Race 2: 1. Nueces, 2. Boone Docks, 3. Profound Visionary. LONG SHOT: What We Doing.

Race 3: 1. Trust Your Gut, 2. Unapologetic, 3. Chris and Dave. LONG SHOT: Start a Runnin.

Race 4: 1. Rockin Rudy, 2. Cammy’s Music, 3. Thirty Pepperonis. LONG SHOT: Dude’s Dude.

Race 5: #3 Temple Keys (6-1) BEST BET, 2. Tengas Ransom, 3. Lindante. LONG SHOT: Anatolian Heat.
Trainer Richard Baltas takes the blinkers off, a move he is 24% with, and he puts jockey Kent Desormeaux aboard and they are 2-for-10 together.

Race 6: 1. Brother Soldier, 2. Lucky Views, 3. Agent Di Nozzo. LONG SHOT: My Secret Affair.

Race 7: 1. #2 Late Spring (12-1), 2. Shrinking Violet, 3. So Sweetitiz. LONG SHOT: Swift Lady.
For the last few years trainer Victoria Oliver has shipped a few grass horses to Del Mar and they always seem to run good. This filly has a record of 9-3-3-1 at this distance on the grass and Drayden Van Dyke rides.

Race 8: 1. #4 Cyclone Betty (4-1), 2. Patience Lady, 3. Ultimate Game. LONG SHOT: Madera Jubilee.
Trainer Bruce Headley bred this 3-year-old filly and owns the sire Cyclotron, who gets winners at an 18% rate first time out. Headley puts good gate jockey Edwin Maldonado aboard and they are 29% together.

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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar selections for Thursday, Aug. 4

Preview: The middle of the meet woes have hit as there are less than 60 horses entered on this card. Some trainers off to slow starts are Mike Puype 1-for-22, Kristin Mulhall 1-for-18 plus Keith Desormeaux and Bob Hess Jr., both 1-for-16.

Race 1: 1. Celebrity Status, 2. Ain’t No Other, 3. Senator Bob. LONG SHOT: Tripski.

Race 2: 1. Arrogate, 2. Five Palms, 3. Teniente Coronel. LONG SHOT: Mystery Train.

Race 3: 1. Moose Skowron, 2. Handsome Hank, 3. Quorum of Joy. LONG SHOT: Proud Zoning.

Race 4: 1. #5 Tattooed Kitty (4-1) BEST BET, 2. Lil Miss Sapphire, 3. Holy Mosey. LONG SHOT: Zensational Dancer.
Trainer Peter Miller has a penchant for scoring with first-timers from San Luis Rey Downs, like this filly. We love the sire Wildcat Heir (15% first time out) and Miller puts Brayan Pena aboard.

Race 5: 1. #3 Hell On Wheels (12-1), 2. Lamontagne, 3. Discatsonthesquare. LONG SHOT: Lemon de Oro.
It isn’t often you get double-digits on a horse trained Phil D’Amato but that’s what we are getting here. D’Amato is 24% with horses coming off a 90-plus day layoff and she has plenty of early foot in this turf sprint. The sire Speightstown gets 12% winners first time turf.

Race 6: 1. Prime Issue, 2. Eight Spokes, 3. Signature Cat. LONG SHOT: Pulla Train.

Race 7: 1. #1 Dame Street (9-2), 2. How Unusual, 3. Mo Knows. LONG SHOT: Lunar Empress.
It’s that man Phil D’Amato again as he gets this filly off 2-for-2 efforts on the grass at Tampa Bay Downs. Top grass jockey Flavien Prat takes the mount for this improving 3-year-old and he’s 28% with D’Amato.

Race 8: 1. Soap Box, 2. Triple Clown, 3. Jimmy the Juice. LONG SHOT: Accordance.

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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar selections for Sunday, July 17

Preview: Phil D’Amato led the training standings at Santa Anita on the turf, but last year at Del Mar he was no better than fourth on the grass. Doug O’Neill led all trainers with grass wins last summer followed by Peter Miller and Mike Puype. Keep it in mind. How some of you hit Saturday’s $20.40 winner She’s Not Here.

Race 1: 1. Pragmatical (SCRATCHED), 2. English Queen, 3. Brainspin. LONG SHOT: Vivacious Beauty.

Race 2: 1. #5 Carlsbad Mountain (8-1), 2. Thanksgiving Day, 3. Big Tire. LONG SHOT: Dive Down.
Just throw out that last race for this gelding. Trainer Robertino Diodoro drops this 7-year-old back to his claimed level and the gelding has a win over the track at the fall meet. Look for jockey Stewart Elliott to send his mount from the gate.

Race 3: 1. #8 Cammy’s Music (4-1), 2. Mr. Louis, 3. Crime Boss. LONG SHOT: Thirty Pepperonis.
Trainer Craig Dollase is good with first-timers, sporting a 24% win pct. with those types. He is 29% with debuting maiden claimers and the sire Maclean’s Music is 38% with first-time starters with limited starters.

Race 4: 1. Sausalito Sunset, 2. It’s Not So Easy, 3. Champagne Elegance. LONG SHOT: Highly Classified.

Race 5: 1. Entrechat, 2. Chati’s On Top, 3. Flamingo Lane. LONG SHOT: Bottle Blonde.

Race 6: 1. Success Rate, 2. Celebrity Status, 3. Swiss Cheese. LONG SHOT: Northern Iowa.

Race 7: 1. Riri, 2. Cheekaboo, 3. Well Caught. LONG SHOT: How Unusual.

Race 8: 1. Chasing Aces, 2. Law Abidin Citizen, 3. The All Button. LONG SHOT: Blame Joe.

Race 9: 1. Midnight Storm, 2. Finnegans Wake, 3. Ashleyluvssugar. LONG SHOT: Flamboyant.

Race 10: 1. Kristi’s Copilot, 2. Que Chistoso, 3. It’s Just Bob. LONG SHOT: Ebony Gold.

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Saturday’s top choice winners: 3 (Toowindytohaulrox $4.20, fifth race;  Rinse and Repeat $6.20, sixth; She’s Not Here $20.40, ninth)

Saturday’s second choice winners: 0

Saturday’s third choice winners: 4 (Overcomer $7, first; Passionate Emotion $5, second; Spanish Hombre $7.40, fourth; Morganite $19.40, eighth)

Saturday’s long shot winners: 1 (Cindys Secret $43.40, third)

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Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita opinions for Friday, June 17

Preview: Now that Golden Gate has finished its meet in Northern California you will see plenty of horses shipping south to either score at Santa Anita or get in a race before a money run at Del Mar.

Race 5 – SA
#5 Halo Darlin (5-1): This filly makes her turf debut for trainer Mike Puype. Jockey Joe Talamo keeps the mount on this daughter of Lucky Pulpit, who gets 9% first out grass winners. This filly had the top late pace rating from Brisnet in her last race at Los Alamitos.

Race 8 – SA
#6 Watch Me Now (4-1): This filly was claimed out of her last race by trainer Doug O’Neill, who is 20% first off the claim. O’Neill is also 23% with beaten favorites and 20% with jockey Flavien Prat, who jumps aboard.

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Golden Gate, Horse racing

Golden Gate opinions for Sunday, June 12

Preview: It’s closing day of the long meet and the 20-cent Pick 6 must be given away today. The jackpot is more than $1.4 million so you count on it at least doubling or tripling today.

Race 9 – GG
#5 Freddies Dream (4-1): This gelding makes his NoCal debut after running for trainer Mike Puype down south. He ends up in the high percentage Andy Mathis barn and he gets perennial riding champ Russell Baze to ride. Baze is 35% with Mathis.

Race 10 – GG
#10 A Little Luckier (6-1): Jockey JJ Hernandez had his choice of four horses in this race and he sticks with this mare. She’s taking a drop in class for trainer John Martin, who hits with 32% of his claimers and 35% with Hernandez.

Race 12 – GG
#9 Call My Bluff (4-1): This filly is dropping from a straight maiden affair to the maiden claiming ranks. She gave an even effort in a sprint and now tries two turns on the grass. Being by Temple City, a son of Dynaformer, she should like the turf and the distance. Trainer Tim McCanna is 2-for-9 dropping into a maiden claimer and he’s 22% with jockey Frank Alvarado. Also consider using the 7 and 12.

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Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita opinions for Sunday, May 29

Preview: There are three turf races on this pretty mundane Sunday card. Phil D’Amato leads all trainers (through Friday) with four turfs wins followed by Mike Puype with three. Trainers to avoid are Jim Cassidy (1-for-12), shockingly Richard Baltas (1-10), Mark Glatt (0-9) and Peter Eurton (0-8).

Race 5 – SA
#3 Family Code (6-1): This gelding is returning from a 3-month freshening and trainer Robertino Diodoro is 27% with horses away 90-plus days. The 3-year-old has been facing tougher and might score right off the layoff.

Race 7 – SA
#5 Swiss Silver (5-2): Trainer Hector Palma claimed this gelding out of a sprint but we think the reason he did was a second place going around two turns two races back. Palma is 31% first off the claim and he’s 33% with apprentice rider Brayan Pena.

Race 8 – SA
#3 A Red Tie Day (6-1): We’re not sure this horse is a Grade II animal but he didn’t finish fourth at the level at Keeneland in only his third race after more than 18 months away. This much we do know the 66-year-old loves the Santa Anita turf course with three lieftime wins and jockey Flavien Prat, who guided him to one of those wins, gets back on.

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Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita opinions for Friday, March 4

: There doesn’t appear to be much value on the card early so look to the end of the card.

                                

Race 6 – SA        

#4 Devils Informer (8-1) 

Broke his maiden at Del Mar at first asking, but hasn’t been seen since. Has been moved from trainer Mike Puype to Phil D’Amato, who is 28% with horses off a 180-plus-day layoff. Jockey Edwin Maldonado jumps on and he is 45% with D’Amato at Santa Anita.

                   

Race 7 – SA

#1 Chocolatier (5-1) (turf only)

Was last seen on the East Coast for trainer Chad Brown. Now has been moved to trainer Blaine Wright, who is 20% with horses off a 61-180-day layoff. This mare has speed, which has done very well on this turf course. Jockey Tyler Baze is 2-for-4 with Wright at Santa Anita.

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Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita opinions for Monday, Feb. 15

Preview: Five-day a week cards are tough here but at least we get to see Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Nyquist today begin his Road to the Kentucky Derby. I like Exaggerator to give him all he wants today.

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Race 2: #8 Adios Princess (5-2)

There are a lot of first-timers in this maiden claimer, but the proven commodity is this 3-year-old filly, which is dropping from a MSW. Jockey Flavien Prat jumps on for trainer Mike Puype and they are 20% together.

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Race 4: #4 Souper Knight (5-1) 

Trainer David Jacobson is starting to get the hang of things in Southern California.Tyler Baze jumps on this gelding, which holds the top Brisnet Prime, Class and Late Pace numbers.

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Race 9: #5 Holiday Mousse (8-1)

This gelding was bought for 185K and now is offered for $30K in a maiden claimer. Trainer Doug O’Neill is 29% going from MSW to MC and he switches to speed jockey Edwin Maldonado which probably means a send from the gate.

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