Make the best of it Saturday

Real Writing on Racing 💯

Last fall a post-Breeders Cup flurry of retirement announcements for 2022’s top three year olds and older males made clear that this was going to be a rough year for the class formerly known as the ‘handicap division’. Today crystallizes that reality as the Ben Ali (Gr III) at Keeneland, Oaklawn Handicap (Gr II) of course at Oaklawn, and the Californian (Gr II) at Santa Anita are all run today with many relatively modestly accomplished entrants. Now the wisdom of having these three races run on the same day, with the Alysheba (Gr II) coming up in 13 days is questionable but that’s a story for another day. We will preview the Ben Ali below ⬇️

🇨🇦 Earlier this year I had been contacted by a few Canadian horsemen about the strong arm tactics that Woodbine had been using in their contact negotiations with the HBPA, something which I and most of the racing industry at large were unaware of. It eventually got settled so that the meet would only be delayed a week, but not before incendiary comments were made by a Woodbine suit about circumventing the horsemans group to create a puppet organization, words that I have been told, won’t be forgotten. In todays TDN, David Anderson of Anderson Farms, a huge figure and proponent of the Ontario Thoroughbred industry pulls no punches talking about the latest flap between Woodbine and Fort Erie Racecourse. This new controversy has led to the smaller track located just across the Niagara River from Buffalo to file suit against Woodbine for its stance barring horses from reentering their grounds after racing at Ft Erie and the schedule of the Canadian Triple Crown races. Read about it here and kudos for Anderson for being willing to speak up, something a lot of racing industry leaders south of the border don’t seem inclined to do.

🇸🇦 I will have a lot more to say on the topic in the coming days but this announcement marks an uncomfortable milestone in the downward trajectory of the American Turf. Read the Jimmy Jerkens heads overseas article here.

🦀 If you think your state has racing issues…at least you aren’t Maryland where the latest debacle has led to a suspension of racing and amazingly agendas are being pushed rather than emergency solutions. It’s already an untenable situation where a state-run body is likely required to simply keep the lights on at one of the tracks, which you can read about here.

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Ben Ali (Gr III) $300,000 4&up 1 3/16 main track

1. Pioneer of Medina - seems like forever ago that I was holding Kentucky Derby future tickets on him at like 70-1. Obviously that didn’t work out so well but he has developed into a decent grade 3 level performer even if he didn’t make much noise last out at FG after a wide trip. The rail at Keeneland is usually a good spot to be, he has run pretty competitive TG figs and should get a nice trip behind some suspect early speed types. He got beat fair and square at GP by Skippylongstocking but outside of South Florida, we may see a reversal of fortunes.

2. Trademark - has never really run anything close to what he would need to win this. His comeback race at Tampa 42 days ago wasn’t great and while he may have needed it, it’s hard to make a great or even good case for using him here

3. Call Me Fast - we can call him fast but the cold, hard reality is that he just isn’t for this level. Not a lot of non-stakes options for horses that cleared their first two conditions but it’s hard to get him on the board here…and this isn’t exactly the 98 Breeders Cup Classic group.

4. Skippylongstocking - galloped home in the Challenger (Gr III) at Tampa in his latest, after getting trounced in the Pegasus World Cup (Gr I) in previous start. Should get good stalking trip under a strangely cold Irad, has figs that will win this on his best and will likely also be overbet for trainer who doesn’t have stellar record at Keeneland.

5. Rattle N Roll - had some three year old success painting around the edges, winning the St Louis Derby at Fan Duel (Fairmont Park) and the Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park. However his first foray as an 4yo against older horses was a dud and taking him to win with his deep closer style at anything close to the 3-1 morning line is not advised.

6. Happy American - this guy started off the FG meet in style, capturing two stakes while running seriously improved TG figs of -.75 (which could win this). However his last two were huge regressions for no apparent reason and while it’s possible that he could get back to his best races in here, it’s more likely that he doesn’t.

7. Tawny Port - he peaked as a three year old in June at Thistledowns in the Ohio Derby but didn’t develop at all afterwards. His 4 yo season has not gotten kicked off all that well as he hasn’t been a factor in either start, including last out at Oaklawn in the Essex (Gr III). Gets blinkers for the Cox-Prat team, with his human connections being his most appealing asset.

🤬 Reminder that Jimmy Jerkens can train good horses to do great things