Tag Archives: Victor Espinoza

Del Mar, Horse racing

Jeff Nahill’s Del Mar opinions for Saturday, July 11

Note: Jockeys Flavien Prat and Mike Smith will be riding at Keeneland today. And agent Brian Beach announced Friday night that jockey Victor Espinoza tested positive for the coronavirus.

FIRST RACE: 1. Hydrogen, 2. Next Flight, 3. Foreign Protocol. LONG SHOT: Malakai Moxie.

SECOND RACE: 1. Carpe Victorian, 2., Go Time, 3. Commander. LONG SHOT: D K’s Crown.

THIRD RACE: 1. Da Kine, 2. Trojan Magic, 3. Pour On the Cole. LONG SHOT: Bigfoot City.

FOURTH RACE: 1. Lemon Drop Tini, 2. Surface, 3. Sapori Girl. LONG SHOT: M Fast.

FIFTH RACE: 1. Girther, 2. Raisebeforetheflop, 3. Hot Rod Charlie. LONG SHOT: Cross Indian.

SIXTH RACE: 1. Duplicity, 2. Speedy Justice, 3. Torosay. LONG SHOT: K P Indy.

SEVENTH RACE: 1. Rogallo, 2. Include the Tax, 3. All I Can Say. LONG SHOT: Lucky Patrick.

EIGHTH RACE: 1. Voodoo Song (BEST BET), 2. Bolo, 3. Kiwi’s Dream. LONG SHOT: Jasikan.

NINTH RACE: Sabinos Pride, 2. Rather Nosy, 3. Kristi’s Tiger. LONG SHOT: Teachers Big Dream.

10TH RACE: 1. Nurse Goodbody, 2. Sweet Devil, 3. Red Diamond. LONG SHOT: Fabiolla.

Good luck. Stay safe.

FRIDAY’S DEL MAR RESULTS

Top choice winners: 4 (Secret Touch $6, first race, cold exacta $26.40; Aqua Seaform Shame $4.80, second, $23.60 cold daily double, cold exacta $12.40, cold trifecta $17.30; St. Joe Bay $7, eighth; Hit the Road $5.20, ninth, cold daily double $19.20)

Second choice winners: 0

Third choice winners: 1 (Julius $7.20, 10th)

Long shot winners: 3 (Rayray $6.20, third; Cali Caliente $21.20, fourth; Righteously $43.60, sixth)

THURSDAY’S KEENELAND RESULTS

Top choice winners: 1 (Dos Vinos $3.60, eighth race)

Second choice winners: 3 (Fauci $4.20, first;Jeweled Princess $5.40, second; Palio Flag $10.20, sixth)

Third choice winners: 0

Long shot winners: 1 (Holly Blame $8.20, third)

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Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita opinions for Saturday, Oct. 7

Preview: Three stakes races on the card, but the first two don’t look like prices will be coming in. Other than that, a decent card.

FIRST RACE: #3 Cause for Pardon (9-2)
Drops to his lowest level ever in the maiden claiming ranks and gets a good jockey switch to Edwin Maldonado, who is good from the gate so look for a send job.

THIRD RACE: #1 Antioch (6-1)
This filly wasn’t bad last year as a 2-year-old, but obviously suffered an injury. Trainer Richard Mandella doesn’t bring them back until they are ready, hence he has a 26% strike rate with horses off a 180-day plus layoff. Regular barn rider Flavien Prat keeps the mount and the colt is coming out of a key race that has produced four winners from 10 starters.

FIFTH RACE: #6 Bunny Yogurt (10-1)
John Sadler has had this filly stashed at San Luis Rey Downs sans one Santa Anita work. Sadler is 20% with first time starters and I love the sire Scat Daddy on the turf. He gets 15% first time grass. Victor Espinoza is 21% with Sadler.

EIGHTH RACE: #3 Mrs McDougal (4-1)
This is it for this mare and I. Either win today or we’re done. LOL. She came from New York off a long layoff but just hasn’t shown the form she had last year. This is her third off the layoff for the team on Mandella and Prat. I suspect if she doesn’t win it will be off to the breeding shed. This mile distance appears to be her favorite with a 4-3-0-1 record.

NINTH RACE: #3 Dadtughtmewell (10-1)
Takes a drop in class off a long layoff. She is 2-for-3 at this distance. Prat and trainer Dean Pederson are 4-for-4 together the last two years.

Good luck.

@Jeff_Nahill on the Twitter

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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar selections for Wednesday, Aug. 10

Preview: Half of the card will be on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course and the rails will be at 30 feet. Speed suddenly got good over the weekend on the grass so keep it in mind. Flavien Prat is the top grass jockey with 8 wins from 46 mounts followed by Kent Desormeaux 7-38 and Victor Espinoza 5-22.

Totally forgot to post all races. sorry.

Race 1: 1. Pay the Fine, 2. Rangi, 3. Chips All In. LONG SHOT: Arizona Moon.

Race 2: 1. #4 Time and Chance (3-1), 2. Ponder Lea, 3. Basie Boots. LONG SHOT: Reckless Charm.
Trainer Ron Ellis received this horse from Gulfstream Park, obviously looking for the Ship N Win bonus. The filly has speed and shown that in two works over the Del Mar surface. On top of that Ellis gets Rafael Bejarano to ride and he hasn’t used the perennial riding champ in the last two years.

Race 3: 1. Dixie Patrol, 2. Ky. Colonel, 3. Farley. LONG SHOT: Chase the Money.

Race 4: 1. #2 Bolitar (5-1), 2. Papa Papa Papa, 3. Basinca. LONG SHOT: Dreamy Martini.
This colt has been away since February but has been tearing up the track in the mornings at Los Alamitos. The Doug O’Neill barn has been in a slump but he is due to break out. O’Neill is 23% with beaten favorites and this 3-year-old takes a class drop.

Race 5: 1. Albeit, 2. Too Much Drama, 3. Tanager. LONG SHOT: Starring Role.

Race 6: 1. #9 Billy Big (3-1) BEST BET, 2. Lucky Whalen, 3. The All Button. LONG SHOT: Cedar Rapids.
This colt is making his first start in the U.S. for trainer Phil D’Amato and is crying out for two turns on the turf. The sire, Royal Applause, averages 7.4 furlongs with winners and the sire of the broodmare, Act One, averages 10.1 furlongs. D’Amato is 25% spring to turf and gets Kent Desormeaux to ride and they are 2-for-3 at Del Mar the last two years.

Race 7: 1. Anytime Anyplace, 3. Heiri of Storm. LONG SHOT: Songforjohnmichael.

Rcae 8: 1. La Premiere Etoile, 2. Southern Drawl, 3. Haute Style. LONG SHOT: Lethal Legacy.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar selections for Wednesday, Aug. 3

Preview: So-so card. Some jockeys off to slow starts are Joe Talamo 2-for- 45, Martin Garcia 2-36, Martin Pedroza 2-35 and Edwin Maldonado 1-36. Maldonado has reportedly changed agents.

Race 1: 1. #3 Senza Fina (8-1), 2. Flexible Ethics, 3. L.A. Magic. LONG SHOT: Smil’n From Above.
Trainer Mark Glatt, who is off to a fast start, held a fire sale on this mare last time and she finished second. Glatt is 24% with beaten favorites and in a good sign, he moves her up in class. Glatt is 22% with jockey Fernando Perez.

Race 2: 1. Gloryzapper, 3. Minster’sadventure. LONG SHOT: Meta Mu.

Race 3: 1. Huevos Rancheros, 3. Zen Deputy. LONG SHOT: Grass and Cactus.

Race 4: 1. Pay or Play, 2. Stormy Endeavor, 3. Start to Finish. LONG SHOT: Cougar Creek.

Race 5: 1. #6 Souper Knight (5-1), 2. Schillairess, 3. Gutsy Ruler. LONG SHOT: Well Maybe.
Trainer Gary Stute doesn’t start many but he claimed this gelding last time and Stute is 44% first off the claim. Jockey Victor Espinoza jumps on.

Race 6: 1. #3 Nusret (6-1) BEST BET, 2. Ain’t Misbehavin, 3. Matriculate. LONG SHOT: Storm Comin Thru.
Trainer Ron Ellis doesn’t claim very often so when he does you have to take notice. Ellis is 22% first off the claim and he stretches this gelding out off many sprints.

Race 7: 1. Milton Freewater, 2. Green With Eddie, 3. California Diamond. LONG SHOT: Exotic Ghost.

Race 8: 1. Magik Pepper, 2. Silent Movies, 3. Gabo’s Macondo. LONG SHOT: Latest Craze.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar selections for Thursday, July 28

Preview: The turf rails are out at 24 feet this week, cutting most of the fields down to 9 horses and makes frontrunners with a better shot. So far on the grass Flavien Prat leads the jockeys with five wins from 22 mounts after a slow start the first week. He’s followed by Kent Desormeaux (4-20) and Victor Espinoza (3-13).

Race 1: 1. Prohibition Repeal, 2. Sam Slick, 3. Midnight Edition. LONG SHOT: H R Express.

Race 2: 1. #2 Hennythelovepenny (7-2) BEST BET, 2. Revenue Virginius, 3. Wedding Blush. LONG SHOT: Matter of Luck.
Trainer Bill Spawr is 37% first off the claim and when he moves a horse up off the claim that’s an even better sign. This filly has the top Brisnet Early Pace Rating and look for jockey Kent Desormeaux to use that speed.

Race 3: Midnight Rambler, 2. Contemplate, 3. Smokey’s Legacy. LONG SHOT: Senator Robert.

Race 4: 1. Magical Mystery, 2. Accelerate, 3. Picture Tube. LONG SHOT: Tiz No Bluff.

Race 5: 1. Optimism And Hope, 2. Ok Doll, 3. Mitzi Winks. LONG SHOT: Paschalitsa.

Race 6: 1. #7 Dixie Dame (6-1), 2. Stand by for News, 3. Royal Flush Babe. LONG SHOT: Royal Red.
This filly is from the red-hot Phil D’Amato barn (5 for 13). She has good early speed and Tyler Baze takes over. Baze is 27% with D’Amato.

Race 7: Holograeme, 2. Dressed to a T, 3. Lily Kai. LONG SHOT: Scattagirl.

Race 8: 1. #7 Johann’s Command (6-1), 2. Malibu Dude, 3. River Hoss. LONG SHOT: Princely Warrior.
This gelding is moving up in class off a third place effort. He has speed and gets a key jockey switch from apprentice Chad Lindsay to Kent Desormeaux, who is 5-for-10 for trainer Richard Rosales.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Del Mar, Horse racing

Del Mar selections for Friday, July 22 (First post 4 p.m.)

Preview: Speed again was king on the main track on Wednesday and winners continue to come off the rail from the two slot on in the stretch and then just pull away. Keep it in mind. Eight races on Wednesday and eight different jockeys won so no one is hot right now.

Race 1: 1. #5 Cherokee in Me(5-1), 2. Summer Veil, 3. Amberella. LONG SHOT: Midnight Lady.
Trainer Armando Lage brings a string down from Northern California, including this filly, who is 2-for-2 in dirt races. The 4-year-old has the top Brisnet Prime and Late Pace Ratings. Also jockey Abel Cedillo is 53% with Lage.

Race 2: 1. Blue Chat, 2. Too Much Drama, 3. Ask Me I Might. LONG SHOT: Jeoffie.

Race 3: 1. Tough Emblem, 2. Radio Silent, 3. All Star parade. LONG SHOT: Armored Car.

Race 4: 1. #9 Trust Ur Intuition (8-1), 2. Sharaun, 3. Silver Mojave. LONG SHOT: Run Like the Boss.
This Cal-bred has been running in claimers at Gulfstream Park and trainer Kristin Mulhall ships her back to face state breds. Mulhall is 20% with shippers and 20% off 31-60-day layoffs. Good gate jockey Martin Pedroza rides and is 18% with Mulhall.

Race 5: 1. Pray Hard, 2. Too Fast to Pass, 3. Distinctive B. LONG SHOT: Dadtaughtmewell.

Race 6: 1. El Super, 2. Little Scotty, 3. Willing to Travel. LONG SHOT: Malko.

Race 7: Enola Gray, 2. Allsquare, 3. Fantasy of Luck. LONG SHOT: Roo’s Valentine.

Race 8: 1. #1 Gio Mio (8-1), 2. The Big Train, 3. Lord of Chaos. LONG SHOT: Admiral’s Club.
Looks like this gelding’s last race was a prep for this spot. If you look over this 3-year-olds PPs you”ll notice his best career race was over this turf course for jockey Victor Espinoza. Trainer Art Sherman has the same conditions here and he’s 25% with Espinoza. The sire Gio Ponti gets 10% turf winners.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

Thursday’s top choice winners: 2 (Gunslinger $4.80, first race; Warm Endowment $8.60, fifth)

Thursday’s second choice winners: 2 (Pico Chick $6.20, second; Five Star Jack $13.40, eighth)

Thursday’s third choice winners: 2 (Freddies Dream $26, third; Plastered $4, sixth)

Thursday’s long shot winners: 0

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Churchill Downs, Horse racing

Churchill Downs opinions for Friday, May 6

Race 7 – CD
#2 Jade Princess (8-1): Simple philosophy: If you lost to undefeated Songbird, it’s no disgrace and play next time without her in the same race. This 3-year-old filly comes out of the Santa Ysabel that Songbird won and two fillies came out of the race to win, including Land Over Sea. Trainer Bob Baffert knows Churchill Downs well and gets Victor Espinoza to ride.

Race 10 – CD
#3 Nodiac (15-1) (turf only): Trainer Phil D’Amato has shipped a string from SoCal to Kentucky this spring and is spreading his wings. This filly finished third over a yielding course and now gets the services of jockey Flavien Prat, who is 32 with D’Amato and one of the top turf riders in SoCal.

Kentucky Oaks selections
1. #13 Land Over Sea
2. #6 Mokat
3. #3 Lewis Bay
4. #2 Weep No More
Like I said before if you lost to Songbird you go to the head of the class. LAND OVER SEA lost so many times Doug O’Neill decided to go to the Fair Grounds to win a race. MOKAT finished second to Songbird in the Santa Anita Oaks in the mud.

Race 13 – CD
#6 Kiss Limit (3-1): As we said trainer Phil D’Amato has come to the Blue Grass and he stepped up to claim this colt off Mike Maker for 50K. By virtue of a cheaper maiden claiming win, this 3-year-old gets to run in a starter allowance. D’Amato is 24% first off the claim and gets that man Flavien Prat (32%) to ride.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita opinions for Saturday, March 12

 

Preview: Rainhit the Arcadia area on Friday so what will happen with the turf races is anyone’s guess. I would think the graded stakes will stay on the turf, but it depends on how much rain there is. As for the main track, here are some jockeys who are under 10% on the dirt: Fernando Perez (9-113), Brayan Pena (3-49), Abel Lezcano (3-35), Tiago Pereira (1-58) and Gonzalo Nicholas (1-39).

                                

Race 2: #2 Queenoftheplace (8-1) (turf only): There is a ton of speed in this race and speed has been good on the turf, but a closer like this mare might just get the trip. She has finished third own the hill.

                   

Race 4: #2 Street Surrender (5-1): This is strictly a trainer and pedigree play on this first-time starter. Craig Dollase is 28% with first-timers and the the sire Street Boss is 19%. Victor Espinoza rides.

 

Race 7 (SAN FELIPE):  #7 Exaggerator (5-2): In my mind, Nyquist is the top 3-year-old in America and this son of Curlin just can’t beat him, but guess what? Nyquist isn’t in this race so Exaggerator should be the favorite. Trainer Keith Desormeaux is 22% second off the layoff and his brother, Kent, will ride.

 

Race 9: #5 Cautious Giant (10-1): This is strictly a pace play in this 7-furlong stakes race. This gelding seems like the lone speed in this spot and he does well at this distance. Jockey Santiago Gonzalez is second in main track wins so he knows what to do.

 

Race 11: #2 Sutton’s Smile (6-1)  (turf only): This filly broke her maiden over a good turf course here so if there is any moisture in it I think she will be tough on the return from the layoff. Trainer Phil D’Amato is 25% with horses off a 90-plus day layoff and he gets Rafael Bejarano to ride.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita opinions for Saturday, March 5

Preview: Good card and turf racing today because it’s supposed to rain on Sunday. Look for turf trainers to fill races as Santa Anita announced it will renovate the grass course beginning in late June so there will be no turf racing the final 3 weeks of the spring meet in addition to a 3-week break in April when Los Alamitos will run.

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Race 4 – SA        

#6 Albeit (12-1) (turf only) 

Arguably this filly’s best race came around two turns on the Santa Anita turf and returns to that set-up here. Trainer Doug O’Neill is 19% going sprint-sprint-route. Jockey Mario Gutierrez jumps back on and is 23% with O’Neill.

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Race 8 — SA

#10 Texas Two Step (15-1)

This gelding has a ton of speed for trainer Peter Miller and has been training well at San Luis Rey Downs with a pair of bullet works. Jockey Victor Espinoza takes over and he is 21% with Miller. I look for Espinoza to go straight to the front and try to steal it.

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Race 9 – SA

#2 Vartan (4-1) 

Trainer Bill Spawr is 38% first off the claim like this gelding. Jockey Agapito Delgadillo is 26% with Spawr and will likely put this 4-year-old on the front end.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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Horse racing, Santa Anita

Santa Anita opinions for Saturday, Feb. 27

Preview: Lots of sprint races on the card. In looking at some jockey stats, some riders to avoid on the dirt are Tiago Pereira (1-44), Gonzalo Nicholas (1-32), Iggy Puglisi (0-17) and on the grass Joe Talamo (1-51), Mike Smith (1-28) and Victor Espinoza (1-24).

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Race 7: #7 Tannersmymuscle (8-1) 

As we mentioned jockey Joe Talamo is having trouble on the turf but on the dirt he has 16 victories. This gelding is making his second start off the layoff and trainer Ron Ellis is 36% second off the claim. The 6-year-old also has the best Brisnet Late Pace Rating.

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Race 9: #5 Proud ‘n’ Ready (turf only) (8-1) 

This filly makes her second start down the hill and while she showed speed last time she also had the best Brisnet Late Pace Rating. Trainer Peter Eurton is 25% second time grass and he’s a good combination with jockey Mario Gutierrez.

@Jeff_Nahill on Twitter

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