Last Call

Real Writing on Racing 💯

🎪 Mostly cloudy but moderate temps though as we stated yesterday, it’s really getting to feel like fall. Early 12:35 post today and tomorrow which is looking like it’s going to be a wet one.

🎪 Attendance was posted as 32,063 and the total handle number was $32,505,660. 2022’s all-sources handle of $830,312,398 has already eclipsed last seasons record number of $815,508,063 with today and tomorrow’s cards left to add to the margin.

☔️ Kentucky Downs postponed the final three races of yesterday’s card because of torrential rains and lightning. Today’s card is tentatively scheduled to be run on Monday though an official decision is supposed to be announced Sunday at 5pm. The last three from yesterday will be run next week as additions to those day’s cards.

✈️ Flightline…it’s pointless to try to even explain how good he was in the Pacific Classic last night. Devastating would be the closest that I can come up with. Sometimes this silly sport makes you feel emotions that aren’t common in everyday life. Awe comes to mind. Awe at the incredible display of sheer talent that the son of Tapit showcases every time he steps foot on the track, as rare is that is. Dispirited that we have hardly got to see him flex his muscles while soberingly knowing he will soon be gone, no matter what the connections claim.

Some were quick to call the 2022 Pacific Classic our generations ‘Secretariat’s Belmont’ and certainly the powerful acceleration, complete ease with which he dispatched a representative group of stakes performers and gaudy margin of victory are reminiscent of that most famous race. However that Belmont Stakes was more than just a race, it was a moment in time where horse racing captured the worlds attention, validation for a sport that desperately needed it. This was just a freaky good horse beating up on lesser foes, impressive as it may be, he hasn’t captivated a nation or really anyone other than ‘dyed in the wool’ racing enthusiasts. It happened on a busy weekend when the sports world wasn’t paying attention to us, 9:00 eastern on a Saturday night, on a day when the host track, Del Mar’s business was off 32%, despite a strong card on it’s biggest day, featuring the mystery horse. He really is the second coming of Hindoo, so far better than his contemporaries that it’s laughable. Sadly the modern day racing conundrum of spacing has prevented the rest of the world from knowing that yes, Hindoo is indeed back, I hope that they at least tune in to watch the coronation on November 6.

🎪 General Jim ran decently in his debut on the dirt on August 13, switched to the grass here in this MSW for 2yo’s going 8.5 furlongs, and held off determined first time starter, Fly Right, to break his maiden. Fly Right ran too well to lose and third place finisher Scramble also shouldn’t be a maiden too much longer either. Shug trains the $850k yearling purchase for Courtland Farms, Luis Saez in the saddle.

🎪 Powerful was a solid second for Asmussen in his debut five weeks ago going 6f, stretched out another furlong and got the job done with a narrow win over sharp first time starter Tapit’s Conquest. Courtland Farms with the back to back maiden breakers, this one a $550k yearling buy, Jose Ortiz rode.

🎪 No Burn continued him march up the class ladder, scoring a perfect trip win in this entry level allowance going one mile out of the chute for Oscar Barrera III and Dylan Davis. Barrera III claimed him a few starts back for $12500 after he changed hands a few times before and this win was his 5th in his last six starts, first that wasn’t a claiming or starter race. Seal Beach hit the rail early on the backstretch, injuring jockey JJ Castellano’s ankle and causing him to take off the rest of his mounts for the meet.

😴 The Saranac (Gr III) is in a precarious position on the calendar with Kentucky Downs and it’s wildly lucrative meet offering the same class of horse, much more money, at the same time. In this years version, we wound up with a four horse field that consisted of the quality graded stakes performer Annapolis, listed stakes types Celestial City and Fuerteventura and a dirt horse in Ethereal Road. That’s it. As for the actual running of the race, the three other jocks conceded the lead to Annapolis, under Irad Ortiz he set a comfortable pace while remaining uncontested and sprinted away in the lane for an easy score good for a 96 Beyer figure. Celestial City and Fuerteventura fittingly dead heated for the place trigger the lowest payoffs that you’ll ever see. The 3-1 exacta paid $1.20 for $1 and the 3-1 quinella paid $1.05 for $1! 💵

🤔 Reason #327 why Turf sprints cause me exasperation. Custom Bobby’s who was shipping north from Monmouth Park for Jose Camejo, had not been close to the lead in his two prior turf sprint attempts and isn’t even particularly speedy type in dirt sprints either. Yesterday? Wire to wire winner going 5.5f on the grass. 🤷🏼‍♂️

🎪 The word was out that Champions Dream was a runner, the son of Justify ($425k OBS March purchase) showing a series of sharp 47 and change works for his debut for Gargan and Saez. The word was right as he broke alertly, fended off a brief challenge from Mo’s Treasure, shook loose and finished up nicely, scoring by 2 1/4 at the end. Prairie Dunes, a Curlin first timer starter for Mott, was away slowly, finished up with a strong rally to nail down second.

🎪 Speaking of Curlin’s trained by Mott that finish races strong, Elite Power was cutting back to 6f after impressively winning two in a row at Churchill going 7f and a mile. Under Joel Rosario, he sat toward the back of the pack in the field of 9 nw2x allowance runners behind a strong pace set by Dubai shipper Meraas (GB). When Rosario asked him to run, he quickly gained position while very wide on the turn, came into the stretch with a head of steam, caught the leaders mid-stretch, drew clear and was taken in hand late. It was a powerful run and signaled that Elite Power is ready to tackle stakes level company soon.

☕️ Instant Coffee 1 Juan Valdez 0. Crupi was well backed off of his troubled trip debut where he made a Silky Sullivan-esque rally from far back but it turned out the star here was Instant Coffee. The son of Bolt D’Oro raced professionally making up ground on the inside, surging to the lead, bumping with runner up Arthur’s Ride yet still getting to the wire first. The time of 1:22.77 was roughly a second faster than the other two divisions of the 2yo MSW run earlier on the card. Dylan Davis with another winner, Brad Cox trains for Al Gold of Cyberknife fame. As far as Juan Valdez, he needs to brew a little longer, he isn’t quite ready to pour yet.

🦆 Sanctuary City’s late rally to win the 9th means no duck for Jimmy Ferraro!

🌺 In yesterdays blog we said this about Flower Bowl (Gr II) contender Virginia Joy (Ger) “if you told me that she was going to the lead I’d rate her with a fair chance…to upset War Like Goddess”. We also said this about War Like Goddess “always tricky taking come from behind grass horses at short odds due to the potential for traffic, slow pace scenario”. I didn’t bet the race but the slow pace scenario along with traffic issues both came true as Joel Rosario rode the favorite like she was 20-1, allowing himself to get bottled up behind an 🇦🇶 Antartica, in the winter, glacial pace set by Virginia Joy (Ger). It baffles me why owners of dedicated deep closers don’t employ ‘rabbits’ to ensure their horse gets a fair chance at running its race? We always want to copycat European racing and while they call them “pace setters” over there, the point is that it’s a completely above board racing tactic. If I ever hit mega-millions for big money and buy some horses, you can best believe that I will also have an arsenal of rabbits as well. Rosario didn’t ride this race well obviously but an entry mate ensuring that a realistic pace will occur, makes his job a lot easier.

🏆 The Jockey Club Gold Cup: How many races go exactly as they looked like they would?

• Olympiad - stalked pace, moved to lead, proved best as expected

• Americanrevolution- stalked pace three wide, clearly second best

• First Captain - improving sort rallied late for show, not first

• Untreated - can’t make lead, stalked leaders, needed to be treated

• Keepmeinmind- raced evenly, no impact in forgettable performance

• Dynamic One - trailed early, minimal gain, not dynamic at all

• Chess Chief - overmatched pawn

• Tax - Set soft pace, folded like he’d been audited

🎪 One year ago on the same, last Saturday of the meet card, Olympiad ran second to Baby Yoda in the most discussed 6.5 furlong allowance race of the year (mostly about Baby Yoda’s 114 Beyer earned that day). Clearly their career paths have gone in different directions since that day.

🇨🇦 Bulldog Hanover tied the Canadian pacing standard (1:46.4) when scoring another big win the Canadian Pacing Derby. Also Back of the Neck with new driver Tim Tetrick pulled off the upset in the Maple 🍁 Leaf Trot at Mohawk last night

Day 39 (1 day to go 🥲)

Spinaway Gr I $300,000 7 furlongs 2 yo fillies

1. Kaling - was professional in debut win and acted like the extra furlong won’t hurt. Inside draw can be tricky and needs to improve from TG 11.5 though this isn’t a particularly fast group she is facing.

2. Miss Georgie - another Girvin winner, she speed popped a MSW field at Laurel two weeks ago earning a slow 49 Beyer and a little better than that TG of 14.25. Needs to improve a lot in a short time and she will have company on the front end.

3. Apple Picker - ran slow in debut win and worse in weak effort in Adirondack (Gr III). Tough to like today

4. Naughty Gal - ran a bit green when capturing the Adirondack (Gr III), drifting out to the setter of the track in the stretch. This bulkier field may be more difficult for her to navigate though I’d expect new rider Jose Ortiz won’t have her too far away from the early speed if not on the lead. Not getting the respect that perhaps she should, could the Hot Tub Time Machine make one last stop in the Spa later today?

5. Just Cindy - the jockey shuffle continues as Saez lands here despite her being ridden in her stakes win here opening day by Irad. Got plenty of time since that race, training at the Kenneally base at Keeneland and shipping back up for this. Has run pretty fast both starts (9.75 & 10) and if she steps up here, she will be a huge player. Respect the NYRA morning line but 5-1 seems generous if you like her here.

6. Leave No Trace - Jose Lezcano takes the reins from Irad who rode her in her only start (win in ®️MSW) for Serpe who has had an excellent meet. She was impressive visually, geared down at the end and her TG number might reflect that (12). The stretch out from 5.5 to 7 can be tricky but she isn’t without a chance in this group which is relatively pretty evenly matched.

7. Sabra Tuff - got drilled by Wonder Wheel in the Debutante at Churchill and ran similar type race in the Adirondack (Gr III) when third. Irad off, Franco on. Makes fourth start here and should be closing, the extra distance won’t hurt but can she make up those 6 lengths from the favorite?

8. Aunt Shirley - interesting that this filly is where Irad lands after riding what seems like half the field in their last starts. He has only ridden for the barn three times in 2012-22. She broke her maiden at Ellis Park in the mud, earning a 12 TG, the same as some horses in here who are listed at 20-1. Has to stretch out 2 furlongs since her debut was at 5f. Curious.

9. Wonder Wheel - crushed both fields that she has faced. Off since July 4, her last race was very fast for an early summer 2yo filly, (TG 7.25 after a 12 in her debut). Gafflione was scheduled to ride at Kentucky Downs today which is why Johnny Velazquez has shown up named on her. His stats for the Casse barn are pretty weak (4% in 28 starts) which doesn’t really matter to the filly. Outside draw helps as JV can survey the pace setup and move accordingly. The one to beat but not unbeatable.

10. American Rockette - broke maiden last to first in off the turf MSW going 5.5 over good surface earlier in the meet. Potential upsetter if a lively pace ensues as she will be closing at the end. The extra distance won’t hurt though honestly I don’t know how good that group she beat was.