Tag Archives: Neil Drysdale

Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar selections for Saturday, Nov. 25

Preview: Rain is expected to hit the Del Mar area this afternoon so make sure you check the track conditions. Trainer Peter Miller continued his rampage on Thursday with three more wins, giving him eight in the last three racing days. On the riding front, there are five jockeys within three wins at the top as Flavien Prat and Santiago Gonzalez were tied with eight wins each through Thursday.

Race 1: 1. #6 Look Twice (3-1), 2. L’s Choice, 3. Bluegrass Bronco. LONG SHOT: What We Doing.

Peter Miller claimed this gelding last time out and leaves him at the same level. Like we said Miller has been hot and spotting his horses well. Apprentice Austin Solis gets the mount and has won of 3-of-8 with Miller.

Race 2: 1. Glacken Too, 2. Alabama Tide, 3. Malibu Mogul. LONG SHOT: Louden’s Gray.

Race 3: 1. Midnight Candy, 2. Margie’s Minute, 3. Sharp Holiday. LONG SHOT: Trinitys Turn.

Race 4: 1. #2 Horse Laugh (6-1) (turf only), 2. Richard’s Boy, 3. Eddie Haskell. LONG SHOT: War Envoy.

There is a ton of speed in this race so we are going with the closer of the bunch in this 5-year-old gelding. The son of Stormello finished third on this course against tougher this summer. Jockey Jamie Theriot takes the mount.

Race 5: 1. #2 Vexatious (4-1), 2. Bernina Star, 3. Mistressofthenight. LONG SHOT: Diamond of Value.

This is a tough maiden race, but we think trainer Neil Drysdale just put this one in for the experience last time and today is what the son of Giant’s Causeway really wants to do (go long on the dirt). Kent Desormeaux keeps the mount over one for his trainer/brother. Drysdale is 19% with maiden second time starters.

Race 6: 1. Journey Home, 2. Defiant Honor, 3. With Honors. LONG SHOT: La Force.

Race 7: 1. Unique Bella, 2. Mannerly, 3. Top Quality. LONG SHOT: Princess Nile.

Race 8: 1. Vyjack, 2. Om, 3. Ring Weekend. LONG SHOT: A Red Tie Day.

Race 9: 1. General Info, 2. Majestic Journey, 3. One I’m Running To. LONG SHOT: Pamper n’ Boots.

Good luck.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

Standard
Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar picks for Friday, Nov. 25 (Sorry they are late)

Preview: Despite missing last Saturday, jockey Flavien Prat leads the riding race by one (8-7) over Santiago Gonzales. In the training standings, a hat trick on Sunday put Peter Miller on top with six victories. Then he won three more races on Thursday and he is starting to run away with the training title.

SORRY PICKS ARE LATE.

Race 1: #6 Holidayincambodia (8-1), 2. Altaira, 3. Rosarita. LONG SHOT: Audra.
This filly won at this level at LRC, then was bumped up and now comes back down. Trainer Dan Hendricks is 33% when dropping a horse two or more classes. Jockey Brice Blanc continues to ride.

Race 2: 1. Salient, 2. Jet Set Man, 3. My Uncle Al. LONG SHOT: Hot Rodin.

Race 3: 1. Mr Ability, 2. Hot Smoke, 3. Elwood J. LONG SHOT: Ms. Wakaya.

Race 4: 1. Miss Big Stuff, 2. Lajatico, 3. Sturdy One. LONG SHOT: Little Voice.

Race 5: #2 Ourroseofthenile (8-1), 2. Wicked Factor, 3. Pontificator. LONG SHOT: Tell My Fortune.
Gave an even effort in her debut in late August and hasn’t been seen since. That race has produced at least two winners. This daughter of Pioneerof the Nile got out of the gate slow and it looks like trainer Joe Herrick has worked on that. Jockey Iggy Puglisi stays aboard.

Race 6: 1. Ashleyluvssugar, 2. Flamboyant, 3. Quick Casablanca. LONG SHOT: Royal Albert Hall.

Race 7: 1. Prime Attraction, 2. Univited, 3. My Italian Babbo. LONG SHOT: Hollywood Strike.

Race 8: #11 Alsatian (8-1), 2. Extreme Heat, 3. Amodei. LONG SHOT: Bottle Service.
We liked this colt last week when he was entered but trainer Neil Drysdale scratched and we’re not happy about the outside draw but the rails are at zero so that will help anyone going wide. This colt is bred to love the turf and Drysdale has them cranked up first time out but he’s 19% second time. Good turf rider Drayden Van Dyke takes the mount.

Good luck.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

Standard
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).

==                                

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.

== 

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.

== 

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

Standard
Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita opinions for Monday, Jan. 18

Preview: Sorry forgot to post Sunday’s thoughts. Had just one winner: Dressed to a T and it went off at 2-1 so I guess no great loss. Again five-day weeks aren’t good for the circuit right now. The turf trainers haven’t gotten into a rhythm yet due to the weather so these numbers hopefully will improve but trainers to give a second thought to right now on grass: Doug O’Neill is 1-for-16, Jerry Hollendorfer is 0-9, John Sadler 0-8, Mike Puype 0-7 and Neil Drysdale 0-7.

==                                

Race 2: #2 Drum Roll Please (turf only) (6-1)

This gelding almost scored at Del Mar at 33-1. He has had two months off and jockey Alonso Quinonez takes over. A similar effort with the cozy inside draw might mean a trip to the winner’s circle.

==

Race 7: #1 Monsieur Power (6-1)

After 20 combined races on all-weather or grass tracks, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer decides to put this 5-year-old on dirt after claiming him two back. Hollendorfer is 30% in a horse’s second start off the layoff and Flavien Prat rides.

==

Race 9: #10 Blix Curve (15-1) 

Trainer Justin Clark was 29% last year. He is 41% with horses moving up one class and 35% in sprint races. Jockey Alonso Quinonez grabs the mount.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

Standard
Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar selections for Thursday, Sept. 3

FIRST RACE: 1. Central Casting, 2. Aiming Straight, 3. Marquee Cat. LONG SHOT: Tumbleweedprincess.

==
SECOND RACE: 1. #4 She’s Flush (6-1), 2. Zanbo, 3. Fantastic Mizz. LONG SHOT: Jade With Envy.

This filly has been overmatched in a pair of Cal-bred stakes. She now returns to the claiming ranks for trained Ed Moger Jr. and gets the services of jockey Corey Nakatani, who has been knocking them dead on the turf this meeting.

==

THIRD RACE: 1. Scarlet Emerald, 2. Blue Chat, 3. Of Course It Is. LONG SHOT: Brookes All Mine.
==
FOURTH RACE: 1. Sir Cal, 2. Heat, 3. At Ease. LONG SHOT: Sundar Drums.
==
FIFTH RACE: 1. Harbaugh, 2. Moonlight Meeting, 3. Karma King. LONG SHOT: Love de Car.
Come one, have you a better hunch on the opening day of the college football season?
==
SIXTH RACE: 1. #8 MERLE (6-1) BEST BET, 2. Pipappy, 3. Dirt in Your Face. LONG SHOT: Pleasure Point.

Trainer Neil Drysdale is giving up on this 3-year-old gelding as he drops him from an MSW to the maiden claiming ranks. Drysdale is 58% when he puts a horse in a maiden claimer for the first time. This horse showed a little talent last time until he got steadied on the turf and now runs on the dirt for the first time. Look for big improvement here.

==

SEVENTH RACE: 1. #2 Turnover (6-1), 2. Boozer, 3. City of Vengeance. LONG SHOT: Seeking the Sherif.

Trainer Bob Baffert isn’t known for turf sprinters but he might have one here in this 4-year-old. The gelding was sired by Big Brown (12% first time turf) out of a Lemon Drop Kid (12%) mare. That screams turf. There some decent works and he might surprise.

==
EIGHTH RACE: 1. Tizmatic, 2. Alltheleavesrbrown, 3. Vartan. LONG SHOT: Pyrotechnics.

@Jeff_Nahill On Twitter

Wednesday’s top choice winners: 1 (Forthenineteen $5, second race)

Wednesday’s second choice winners: 1 (Sugar Spice $7.40, fifth)

Wednesday’s third choice winners: 3 (Downtown C.T. $13.40, third; Halo Darlin $25.60, fourth; Wild in the Saddle $40.40, eighth)

Wednesday’s long shot winners: 1 (Temperature Runnin $28.40, first)

 

Standard
Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita opinions for Sunday, June 7

Race 3: #4 Om (2-1)

This 3-year-old is 0-for-2 on a dirt track but he’s just too talented not to do well again. He went two turns for the first time in winning his last race on the grass and he was one of the most impressive maiden winners last summer at Del Mar.

==

Race 6: #1 Gas Total (2-1)

Just missed winning the Grade I Vanity on the turf, but trainer Richard Mandella switches her back to the grass. Mandella is 36% dirt to turf and 36% in a horse’s third start off of a layoff.

  ==

Race 9: #5 Annisquam (7-2)

There are a lot of first-time starters in this race, but this 3-year-old filly has shown speed against MSW types and now drops in with maiden claimers for the first time. Trainer Neil Drysdale is 46% with that move and in fact pulled it off last week. On top of that he takes the blinkers off this speedball.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

Standard
Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita selections for Friday, April 24

FIRST RACE: 1. Bentley’s Gone, 2. My Ole Bud, 3. Doyouknowsomething. LONG SHOT: Rob’s Golden Touch.

==

SECOND RACE: 1. Quality Chimes, 2. Jackie K, 3. Mackenzies Moment. LONG SHOT: My Sweet Afleet.

==

THIRD RACE: 1. Kiama, 2. Redressthebalance, 3. Zanbo. LONG SHOT: Spelling Again.

==

FOURTH RACE: 1. I Heart You, 2. Vegas Bound, 3. Democracy Rules. LONG SHOT: Private Marina.

==

FIFTH RACE: 1. Tale of Papa Nick, 2. Sidepocket, 3. Gouyen. LONG SHOT: Chaulk O Lattey.

==

SIXTH RACE: 1. Seek Safe Harbor (best bet), 2. Champion Ris, 3. Swe Gee. LONG SHOT: Aguacita.

The strategy seems straight forward here for SEEK SAFE HARBOR (9-5) as apprentice Gonzalo Nicholas is going to take this 3-year-old filly from the gate and go as fast as he can for trainer Doug O’Neill, who is 32% with horses moving down to two classes . Nicholas and O’Neill are 3-for-5 together.

==

SEVENTH RACE: 1. Wings of Mojave, 2. Cervaro, 3. Ransom Canyon. LONG SHOT: City State.

==              

EIGHTH RACE: 1. Divine Tale, 2. Euroclydon, 3. Prettypreciousheir. LONG SHOT: West Coast Storm.

No jockey has been hotter in America than Tyler Baze over the last three weeks and he stays with this 5-year-old mare DIVINE TALE (3-1). She finished second at the level in her first race in nearly a year and gets a furlong longer for her late kick. Surprisingly “turf” trainer Neil Drysdale is 26% with maiden claimers.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

Standard
Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita selections for Saturday, Feb. 7

FIRST RACE: 1. Signature Cat, 2. Cheap O Charlie, 3. Ministers Prayer. LONG SHOT: Roper.

==

SECOND RACE: 1. Industry Leader, 2. Pray Hard, 3. Love Forever. LONG SHOT: American Act.

==

THIRD RACE: 1. Ghost of Navigator, 2. Cyrus Alexander, 3. Nob Hill. LONG SHOT: Scorpious.

Barn has always been high on this son of Mineshaft, but GHOST OF NAVIGATOR (30-1) just hasn’t put it together. This is a tough maiden heat, but worth a stab at the price for trainer Ron Ellis and jockey Tiago Perez. The 3-year-old has shown improved works and should be worth a couple of bucks on win end and underneath the favorites in the exacta.

==

FOURTH RACE: 1. Shanty Irish (best bet), 2. Go Trumpy Go, 3. Young and Hungry. LONG SHOT: Perfect Temptation.

Trainer Mike Puype must want to get this Cal-bred SHANTY IRISH (8-1) on the grass pretty bad as he runs in an open MSW. Breeding says yes to the grass. Pressed that pace in debut, has good work coming into race down the hill and jockey Elvis Trujillo sticks.

==

FIFTH RACE: 1. Firing Line, 2. Dortmund, 3. Rock Shandy. LONG SHOT: Tizcano.

==

SIXTH RACE: 1. Cautious Giant, 2. Whine for Wine, 3. Pulling G’s. LONG SHOT: Kristo.

==

SEVENTH RACE: 1. Quadrivium, 2. Finnegans Wake, 3. Patrioticandproud. LONG SHOT: Dyanmic Sky.

==

EIGHT RACE: 1. Bronzo, 2. Shared Belief, 3. California Chrome. LONG SHOT: Tonito M.

Yes, this is a tough spot for BRONZO (20-1) with the likes of Hoppertunity, Shared Belief and California Chrome in the race, but trainer Neil Drysdale has been quoted as saying the longer the better for this Chile-import. Jockey Gary Stevens got familiar with him last time and hopefully learned something.

==

NINTH RACE: 1. Arethusa, 2. Our Little Hen, 3. Dakota Kid. LONG SHOT: Kyiaki.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

Friday’s top choice winners: 2 (Katerrific $3, first race; Midnight Hawk $4.40, sixth)

Friday’s second choice winners: 1 (Bluegrass Reward $7, second)

Friday’s third choice winners: 3 (Fighter Squadron $15.80, fourth; Nextdoorneighbor $11.20, fifth; Christopher Street $6.40, seventh)

Friday’s long shot winners: 1 (Discatsonthesquare $11.80, third)

Standard
Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita selections for Saturday, Jan. 10 (updated)

FIRST RACE: 1. Wildcat Sailor, 2. Hurry Up Henry, 3. Cloudy River. LONG SHOT: Guy Code.

==

SECOND RACE: 1. Wild At Heart, 2. Glory, 3. Kyankes. LONG SHOT: Kiana Believes.

==

THIRD RACE: 1. Scatajawea, 2. Mama’s Trashed, 3. Empress Wildcat. LONG SHOT: Oleanderpolarbear (SCRATCHED) new long shot: Saint Nata.

==

FOURTH RACE: 1. Kadesha, 2. Keri Belle, 3. Fresh Feline. LONG SHOT: Faringdon Circle.

==

FIFTH RACE: 1. Courtside, 2. No Contingency, 3. Bob Consultation. LONG SHOT: Senor Rain.

==

SIXTH RACE: 1. Unblunted, 2. Hero Ten All, 3. Calculator. LONG SHOT: Rockinatten.

==

SEVENTH RACE: 1. Kenjisstorm (turf only) (best bet), 2. Anytime Anyplace, 3. Nakamoto. LONG SHOT: Battle of Evermore.

Like horses cutting back from two turns to down the hill. Maybe that will wake up this underachiever, KENJISSTORM (12-1). Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith takes over and the son of Stormy Atlantic is coming out of a key race.

==

EIGHTH RACE: 1. Bronzo, 2. Hoppertunity, 3. Quadrivium. LONG SHOT: Tonito M.

BRONZO (8-1), a South American import, finished fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and was moved to the Neil Drysdale barn afterwards. Jockey Gary Stevens jumps on in this tough race. The 6-year-old gelding has been training well and should relish the extra distance of this race.

==

NINTH RACE: 1. Compari, 2. Royal F J, 3. Fighting On. LONG SHOT: River Lemon.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

Standard
Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar selections for Thursday, Aug. 14

FIRST RACE: 1. Rosie Brown, 2. Gold Journey, 3. Awe Gee. LONG SHOT: Fortune’s Daughter.

==

SECOND RACE: 1. Theatre Star, 2. Bunairgead, 3. Spring Bloom. LONG SHOT: Biorhythm.

==

THIRD RACE: 1. Monument (best bet), 2. Got Even, 3. Pepnic. LONG SHOT: Kate’s Event.

MONUMENT (8-1), a 4-year-old colt, is a perfect 2-for-2 on the Del Mar Polytrack. Still above his claimed level and pressed the pace last time on the turf before tiring. Jockey Agapito Delgadillo stays aboard for trainer Alfredo Marquez.

==

FOURTH RACE: 1. Mosso, 2. Boom Boys, 3. Rainbow North. LONG SHOT: Tasha’s Courage.

==

FIFTH RACE: 1. Tiz Zoe Cee, 2. Kid Rollins, 3. Contessa B. LONG SHOT: Sheza Eyeopener.

==

SIXTH RACE: 1. Williams Bay, 2. Sweet as a Rose, 3. Penny Sixpence. LONG SHOT: Freethinker.

WILLIAMS BAY (3-1), a daughter of Kitten’s Joy, is bred to run all day long. She turned in an even effort coming down the hill at Santa Anita for trainer Tom Proctor, who is 25% with second time maiden starters. Apprentice Drayden Van Dyke jumps aboard. PENNY SIXPENCE is the likely favorite, but a horse has yet to win from the No. 1 post on the turf at the meet and the Neil Drysdale trainee got moved in by a scratch.

==

SEVENTH RACE: 1. New Nature, 2. Fable, 3. Hugh Knew. LONG SHOT: La Casadora.

==

EIGHTH RACE: 1. Hope ‘n Pray, 2. Cuneo, 3. Zippingaroundtown. LONG SHOT: Valentine Boy.

Trainer Andy Mathis claimed HOPE ‘ N PRAY (6-1), a son of Old Topper, out of a third-place effort last time. The gelding was closing down the lane and gets an extra half-furlong at the same class level. Long shot jockey Tiago Pereira jumps aboard in a definite jockey upgrade.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

Wednesday’s top choice winners: 0

Wednesday’s second choice winners: 3 (Ontology $5.40, first race; Perfect Set $5.20, fourth; Merit Man $7.20, seventh)

Wednesday’s third choice winners: 1 (Majestic Presence $7.80, fifth)

Wednesday’s long shot winners: 1 (Watch It Buster $13.60, eighth)

Standard