Saturday Preview

Sadly I don't have time to do a preview for all the races on Saturday. Terrible, I know. However, here are my picks for tomorrow's races.

Juvenile Fillies- Rachel's Valentina, Songbird, Tap To It
Turf Sprint- Bobby's Kitten, Marchman
Filly and Mare Sprint- Taris, Judy the Beauty, Floretti
Filly and Mare Turf- Photo Call, Legatissimo, Hard Not to Like
Sprint- Runhappy, Barbados, Limousine Liberal
Mile- Tepin, Mshawish, Karakontie
Juvenile- Riker, Brody's Cause, Swipe
Turf- Big John B, Golden Horn, The Pizza Man
Classic- American Pharoah, Smooth Roller, Honor Code

Shoemaker Recap

Hronis Racing's Talco (FR) (Pivotal (GB)) overhauled Midnight Storm (Pioneerof the Nile) in the Shoemaker. Seek Again (Speightstown) was third. Rafael Bejarano rode the winner for John Sadler.





The winner was bred by Sarl Darpat France and he is out of the mare Trylko (Diesis (GB)). Talco's record is 15 starts with 5 wins, 4 seconds and 3 thirds and earnings of $491,123.

Talco has earned a spot into this year's Mile.

Shoemaker Preview

Turf WAYI races get underway with tomorrow's Shoemaker. A talented field of 5 horses go. Lets take a look at them.

5th Race - Santa Anita Park - Saturday, June 13th, 2015 STAKES. 1 Mile Turf. Purse $400,000. Shoemaker Mile S. (Grade 1). FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS AND UPWARD. By subscription of $100 each to accompany the nomination closed Thursday, June 4,2015 with 12. Supplementary nomination of $8,000 due at time of entry. $6,000 additional to start, with $400,000 guaranteed with $240,000 to the winner, $80,000 to second, $48,000 to third, $24,000 to fourth and $8,000 to fifth. Three-year-olds 118 lbs. Older 124 lbs. Non-winners of a Grade I at One Mile or Over since December 13, 2014, allowed 3 lbs.; Non-winners of a Grade I or Two Grade IIraces at One Mile or Over since June 13, 2014, allowed 5 lbs. *The Shoemaker Mile has been selected as one of the Breeders' Cup Win and You're In Challenge Races. The nominated winner of the Shoemaker Mile will be entitled to automatic entry into the 2015 running of the Breeders' Cup Mile division. The nominated winner will be entitled to have pre-entry and entry fees waived ($40,000 value) for the Championship race, and will be entitled to receive a travel stipend. Winner must be Breeders' Cup nomiinated by pre-entry deadline to receive Challenge rewards. Starters to be named through the entry box by the closing time of entries. A trophy will be presented to the winning owner. (02:35 PM)

PP	Horse	A/S	M/E	Wgt	Jockey	Trainer
1	Winning Prize (ARG)	6 H	L b	119	Garcia Martin	Drysdale Neil D.
2	Talco (FR)	4 C	L	119	Bejarano Rafael	Sadler John W.
3	Midnight Storm	4 C	L	119	Baze Tyler	D'Amato Philip
4	Seek Again	5 H	L	119	Lezcano Jose	Mott William I.
5	Bal A Bali (BRZ)	5 H	L	119	Prat Flavien	Mandella Richard E.

Winning Prize (Pure Prize): 4th in the American and 2nd in the Thunder Road. Was 6th in last year's edition of this race which snapped a 2 win race streak.

Talco (Pivotal (GB)): 2nd in the American and won the Thunder Road. Has been worse then 3rd twice since starting his US campaign. 

Midnight Storm (Pioneerof the Nile): Won Allowance/Optional Claimer and Del Mar Derby. Same sire as American Pharoah.

Seek Again (Speightstown): 3rd in the Woodford Reserve and 9th in the Mile. Tailed off after a good start to his US campagin.

Bal A Bali (Put It Back): Won US debut in the American and his final start in his native Brazil. Beat laminatits which had delayed his US career.

Picks

Win- Talco

Place- Midnight Storm

Show- Bal A Bali

Mile recap

European horse avoiding being shutout of this year's Breeders' Cup on turf where saved by a French based Flaxman Holding's homebred Karakontie (JPN) (Bernstein) won the Mile. Anodin (IRE) (Anabaa) was second and Trade Storm (GB) (Trade Fair (GB)) was third. Stephane Pasquier rode for Jonathan Pease.

Race Replay


Out of the mare Sun is Up (JPN) (Sunday Silence), his record is 9 starts with 5 wins, 2 seconds and 0 with earnings of about $1,877,137.20 US. His 3rd dam is two time Mile winner Miesque (Nureyev).

Mile Preview

No Wise Dan? No problem as there is a great group of horses entered into this year's Mile. Lets take a look at the field:

2014 Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) Nov. 1 4:45 PM PDT

Post	Horse	Jockey	Trainer
1	Grand Arch	John Velazquez	Brian A. Lynch
2	Obviously	Joe Talamo	Philip D'Amato
3	Veda	Christophe Soumillon	Alain De Royer-Dupre
4	Mustajeeb	Patrick Smullen	Dermot K. Weld
5	Toronado	Richard Hughes	Richard Hannon
6	Tom's Tribute	Mike Smith	James M. Cassidy
7	Kaigun	Patrick Husbands	Mark E. Casse
8	Trade Storm	Jamie Spencer	David Simcock
9	Anodin	Olivier Peslier	Freddy Head
10	Summer Front	Javier Castellano	Christophe Clement
11	Sayaad	Julien Leparoux	Kiaran P. McLaughlin
12	Seek Again	Joel Rosario	William I. Mott
13	Tourist	Rosie Napravnik	William I. Mott
14	Karakontie	Stephane Pasquier	Jonathan E. Pease
AE	Mr. Commons	Corey Nakatani	John A. Shirreffs

Grand Arch (Arch): 2^nd in the Shadwell Mile and 5^th in the Woodbine Mile. Has improved since shortening up.

Obviously (Choisir (AUS)): 4^th in the Del Mar Mile and won the Shoemaker. 5^th in last year's Mile.

Veda (Dansili (GB)): 2^nd in the Wildenstein and 6^th in the Sandringham. 2^nd in last G1 race.

Mustajeeb (Nayef): 2^nd in the Boomerang Mile and won the Jersey. Finished 3^rd in this year's Irish 2000 Guineas.

Toronado (High Chaparral (IRE)): 2^nd in the Moulin de Longchamp and Sussex Stakes. Defeated Verrazano and Anodin in the Queen Anne

Tom's Tribute (Lion Heart): Won the Eddie Read and Del Mar Mile. 3 of the last 4 races have been wins.

Kaigun (Northern Afleet): 4^th in the Shadwell Mile and 2^nd in the Woodbine Mile. Ran well at all distances this year.

Trade Storm (Trade Fair (GB)): 2^nd in the Strensall and won the Woodbine Mile. Both North American starts where in Canada, thus this is his US debut.

Anodin (Anabaa): 5^th in the la Foret and 2^nd in the Le Marois. He is a full brother to 3 time mile winner Goldikova.

Summer Front (War Front): 2^nd in the Eddie Read and Shoemaker. Has faced some of very nice horses in the past.

Sayaad (Street Sense): 3^rd in the Shadwell Mile and 4^th in the Baruch. 3 win race streak snapped with a 5^th in the Fourstardave.

Seek Again (Speightstown): 6^th in the Shadwell Mile and won the Fourstardave. Only one bad race since coming over from Europe.

Tourist (Tiznow): 2^nd in the Secretariat and won the Sir Cat. Did take a while to break his maiden, but has done well in both stakes races.

Karakontie (Bernstein): 11^th in the La Foret and 8^th in the Prix du Jockey Club. All of his races have been in France.

Mr. Commons (Artie Schiller): 2^nd in the City of Hope and an allowance race. 5^th in the 2012 and 2011 editions of the Mile.

Picks:

Win- Toronado

Place- Tom's Tribute

Show- Seek Again

Dark Horse- Anodin

Video Preview

France recap

Even though the Arc was the biggest race on the day at Longchamp (won for the second year in a row by Treve), there where 4 WAYI races. Here is the recap of those races:

Coolmore's Found (IRE) won the Total Prix Marcel Boussac-Criterium Des Pouliches. Ervedya (Fr) (Siyouni (Fr)) was second and Jack Naylor (GB) (Champs Elysees (GB)) was third. The winner was ridden by Ryan Moore and trained by Aiden O'Brien.

Bred by Roncon, Wynatt & Chelston, the winner is out of the mare Red Evie (IRE) (Intikhab). Her record is 3 starts with 2 wins, 1 second and earnings of about $266,310.81 US.

Found has now qualified for this year's Juvenile Fillies Turf.


The Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Grand Criterium) turned out to be a wild one with Gleneagles (IRE) (Galileo (IRE)) crossing the wire first, however he was DQ'ed to third for obstruction. The winner of the race would end up being Juddmonte's homebred Full Mast (Mizzen Mast). Territories (IRE) (Invisible Spirit (IRE)) would be elevated to second. Thierry Thulliez rode for Criquette Head-Maarek (the younger sister to Freddie Head who rode Miesque to two Mile wins and trained Goldikova to 3 Mile wins) trains.

Out of the mare Yashmak (Danzig), the winner has a record of 3 starts with 3 wins, 0 seconds and earnings of $315,988.71 US.

Full Mast now has a spot in this year's Juvenile Turf.


In what was a good day for horses with US connections (other then Full Mast's Jean-Luc Lagardere win, Moviesta a Hard Spun gelding who was born in the US finished third in the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp), the good times rolled this time in the Prix de l'Opera. George Strawbridge's homebred We Are (IRE) (Dansili (GB)) was the winner. Ribbons (GB) (Manduro (GER)) was second and Hadaatha (Ire) (Sea the Stars (IRE)) was third. Thierry Jarnet rode for Freddy Head (Jarnet would also win the Arc for Freddy's sister Criquette).

Out of the mare In Clover (GB) (Inchinor (GB)), the winner has a record of 5 starts with 2 wins, 0 seconds and earnings of about $301,684.18 US.

We Are has now earned a spot into this year's Filly and Mare Turf.


Al Shaqab Racing ended a great day with not only an Arc win, but also a win in the Prix de la Foret with Olympic Glory (IRE) (Choisir (Aus)). Gordon Lord Byron (IRE) (Byron) was second and Noozhoh Canarias (SPA) (Caradak (Ire)) was third. Frankie Dettori rode for trainer Richard Hannon.

Bred by Denis McDonnell, Olympic is out of the mare Acidanthera (GB) (Alzao). His record is 15 starts with 8 wins and 5 places with earnings of about $2,159,272.04 US.

Olympic Glory has earned a spot into this year's Mile.

TCA, Breeders' Futurity and Turf Mile Recap

Melnyk Racing Stables homebred Leigh Court (Grand Slam) overhauled the leader Stonetastic (Mizzen Mast) to win the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes. Southern Honey (Colonel John) split Leigh Court and Stonetastic to finish second. Gary Boulanger rode for Josie Carroll. The winner was Canada's top 3yo last year.

Replay:

Coming soon.

Out of the mare Padmore (French Deputy), Leigh has a record of 11 starts with 7 wins, 2 seconds and 0 thirds and earnings of $537,673.

Leigh Court has earned a spot into this year's Filly and Mare Sprint.


WinStar Farm and Stonestreet Stable's Carpe Diem (Giant's Causeway) certinally seized the day in this year's Breeders' Futurity. Mr. Z (Malibu Moon) was second and Bold Conquest (Curlin) was third. John Velazquez rode the winner for Todd Pletcher.


Replay:


Bred by Coffeepot Farm, Carpe Diem is out of the mare Rebridled Dreams (Unbridled's Song). This is the dam's second Breeders' Futurity winner as she also is the dam of J B's Thunder (Thunder Gulch). He has a record of 2 starts with 2 wins, 0 seconds and 0 thirds and earnings of $349,800.

Carpe Diem has now earned a spot into this year's Juvenile.


The first million dollar race at Keeneland had a wild finish which ended with the King retaining his throne. Morton Fink's homebred Wise Dan (Wiseman's Ferry) regained his Shadwell Turf Mile title after losing it last year running down Grand Arch (Arch) and Sayaad (Street Sense). Charlie LoPresti trains the winner with John Velazquez winning his third G1 on the day riding.

The 2 time Horse of the Year is out of Lisa Danielle (Wolf Power (SAF)). Dan's record is 31 starts with 21 wins, 2 seconds and 0 thirds and earnings of $7,552,920.

Replay



Wise Dan has now earned a spot into this year's Mile.

Breeders' Futurity, TCA and Turf Mile Preview

Three stakes races at Keeneland on Saturday are WAYI races. Lets take a look at them:

6th Race - Keeneland - Saturday, October 4th, 2014

STAKES. 6 Furlongs Dirt. Purse $200,000. Thoroughbred Club of America S. (Grade 2). FOR FILLIES AND MARES, THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD. (04:00 PM)

PP	Horse	A/S	M/E	Wgt	Jockey	Trainer
1	Anahauc	4 F	L	120	Borel Calvin H.	Flint Bernard S.
2	Leigh Court	4 F	L	122	Boulanger Gary	Carroll Josie
3	R Free Roll	4 F	L	122	Smith Mike E.	Ziadie Kirk
4	Northern Passion	5 M	L	122	Husbands Patrick	Casse Mark E.
5	Stonetastic	3 F	L	120	Lopez Paco	Breen Kelly J.
6	Southern Honey	3 F	L	120	Leparoux Julien R.	Arnold, II George R.
7	Speedinthruthecity	4 F	L	122	Napravnik Rosie	Asmussen Steven M.
8	Janis's Joy	5 M	L	120	Goncalves Leandro R.	Heitzmann Eric L

Anahauc (Henny Hughes): 3rd in the River Cities Handicap and 4th in the West Virginia Secretary of State. Finished up track in both graded stakes starts.

Leigh Court (Grand Slam): Won the Seeway in lone start of the year, 4th in last year's Queen Elizabeth. 1st and 2nd in her lone two dirt starts.

R Free Roll (Rockport Harbor): Won the Honorable Miss and U Can Do It. Defeated males last year in a prep for the Carry Back.

Northern Passion (First Samurai): 6th in the Presque Isle Masters and 4th in the Seeway. Uptrack in lone dirt start which was at 2.

Stonetastic (Mizzen Mast): Won the Prioress and an Allowance/Optional Claimer. First start at Keeneland.

Southern Honey (Colonel John): 3rd in the Prioress and 9th in the Test. Had won previous three before that.

Speedinthruthecity (City Zip): 3rd in the Smart and Fancy, before that 4th in the Honorable Miss. 2 previous starts at Keeneland didn't go well, but that was on a synthetic surface.

Janis's Joy (Broken Vow): 3rd in the Open Mind and 2nd in the Hoist Her Flag. 1 for 1 at Keeneland, granted on a synthetic surface.

Picks

Win- R Free Roll
Place- Stonetastic
Show- Leigh Court

8th Race - Keeneland - Saturday, October 4th, 2014

STAKES. 1 1/16 Mile Dirt. Purse $500,000. Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (Grade 1). FOR TWO YEAR OLDS. (05:08 PM)

PP	Horse	A/S	M/E	Wgt	Jockey	Trainer
1	Tough Customer	2 C	L	121	Bridgmohan Shaun	Catalano Wayne M.
2	Firespike	2 C	L	121	Smith Mike E.	Maker Michael J.
3	Sharm	2 C	L	121	Saez Luis	Lukas D. Wayne
4	Mr. Z	2 C	L	121	Court Jon Kenton	Lukas D. Wayne
5	Carpe Diem	2 C	L	121	Velazquez John R.	Pletcher Todd A.
6	Bold Conquest	2 C	L	121	Napravnik Rosie	Asmussen Steven M.
7	Conquest Tsunami	2 C	L	121	Husbands Patrick	Casse Mark E.
8	Dekabrist	2 C	L	121	Clark Kerwin D.	Dorochenko Gennadi
9	Ike Walker	2 C	L	121	Albarado Robby	Stidham Michael
10	Hashtag Bourbon	2 C	L	121	Leparoux Julien R.	Gorder Kellyn
11	Keen Ice	2 C	L	121	Lanerie Corey J.	Romans Dale L.
12	W V Jetsetter	2 C	L b	121	Rosario Joel	Weaver George

Tough Customer (Giant's Causeway): Won lone start of career.

Firespike (Flower Alley): Broke maiden last time out, before that was 3rd in a maiden.

Sharm (Majestic Warrior): 3rd in the Hopeful, has yet to break his maiden.

Mr. Z (Malibu Moon): 5th in the Iroquois and 2nd in the Saratoga Special. Most experienced graded stakes horse.

Carpe Diem (Giant's Causeway): One start, one win.

Bold Conquest (Curlin): 2nd in the Iroquois and broke his maiden. Sire's best son to date Palace Malice ran second in the Bluegrass (albeit on synth) last year.

Conquest Tsunami (Stormy Atlantic): Won an Allowance and Colin in his last two. Was scratched out of the Summer to go here.

Dekabrist (Street Boss): 8th in the Iroquois and 5th in the Hopeful. Has to prove he can handle a track outside of Gulfstream.

Ike Walker (Bellamy Road): 5th in the Arlington-Washington Futurity and broke his maiden. Synth to dirt.

Hashtag Bourbon (Super Saver): 3rd in the Iroquois and won the Mountaineer Juvenile. Had a terrible trip last time.

Keen Ice (Curlin): 4th and then a win in his two starts. Dam is 1/2 to stakes winner Coal Play.

W V Jetsetter (Jet Phone): 3rd in the Hopeful and won the TTA Sales Futurity

Picks

Win- Hashtag Bourbon
Place- Bold Conquest
Show- Carpe Diem

9th Race - Keeneland - Saturday, October 4th, 2014

STAKES. 1 Mile Turf. Purse $1,000,000. Shadwell Turf Mile S. (Grade 1). FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD. (05:45 PM)

PP	Horse	A/S	M/E	Wgt	Jockey	Trainer
1	Sayaad	4 C	L	126	Leparoux Julien R.	McLaughlin Kiaran P.
2	Optimizer	5 H	L	126	Garcia Alan	Fernandez Jose
3	Grand Arch	5 G	L	126	Moran David	Lynch Brian A.
4	Silver Max	5 H	L	126	Albarado Robby	Romans Dale L.
5	Kaigun	4 G	L	126	Husbands Patrick	Casse Mark E.
6	Wise Dan	7 G	L	126	Velazquez John R.	LoPresti Charles
7	Two Notch Road	7 G	L	126	Lopez Paco	Thompson Glenn R.
8	Seek Again	4 C	L	126	Rosario Joel	Mott William I.

Sayaad (Street Sense): 4th in the Baruch and 5th in the Fourstardave. Was 5th in the Hill Prince last year which was his other graded stakes start.

Optimizer (English Channel): 2nd in the Baruch by a nose and 12th in the Elkhorn. Could be a factor if this is taken off turf.

Grand Arch (Arch): 5th in the Woodbine Mile and 2nd in the Fourstardave. Better likely going longer then shorter.

Silver Max (Badge of Silver): Defending champ was 6th in the Fourstardave and won the Firecracker. The champ will be gunning for him at the end.

Kaigun (Northern Afleet): Just lost the Woodbine Mile and won the Play the King. Looking for that G1 win.

Wise Dan (Wiseman's Ferry): Won the Baruch after his colic scare and Woodford Reserve. Lost this race when it was taken off the turf, can he turn the tables on Silver Max?

Two Notch Road (Partner's Hero): Won the Punch Line and 5th in the McSorley. Most graded stakes starts have been up the track finishes.

Seek Again (Speightstown): Won the Fourstardave and 3rd in the Manhattan. Finished right behind WD in the Woodford Reserve, and has the best chance to upset him.

Picks

Win- Wise Dan: I do this with a little bit of concern. He may not have been fully cranked for the Baruch, but he is still the king of the mile distance.

Place- Seek Again: Had been debating between him and Kaigun, and went with him off his Fourstardave win.

Show- Kaigun/Optimizer/Silver Max: All three of these horses like the two I have in the Win and Place spots can win this race. I just don't have as much faith in them as I do the top two.

Dark Horse- Silver Max

I had planned to do a video preview on the Shadwell Turf Mile, but due to lack of time I wasn't prepared enough to do one. However, there will be one on the Spinster which is Sunday.

Woodbine Mile recap

Qatar Racing's Trade Storm (GB) (Trade Fair (GB)) made a move in the stretch to defeat Kaigun (Northern Afleet) in this year's edition of the Woodbine Mile. Bobby's Kitten (Kitten's Joy) who led most of the way, faded to third. David Simcock trains the winner with Jamie Spencer riding. Trade Storm was third in last year's race to eventual Mile winner Wise Dan.

Replay:



Bred by G. T. Lucas, Trade Storm is out of the mare Frisson (GB) (Slip Anchor (GB)). His record is 34 starts with 6 wins, 5 seconds, and 3 thirds and earnings of $1,430,898 US. 

Trade Storm has earned a spot in this year's Mile.

Woodbine Mile preview

Sunday is the first of two big days of fall turf racing up in Canada. The final race on the card is the Woodbine Mile which was won last year by Wise Dan. The winner gets a spot in the Mile where they will likely face the 2 time Horse of the Year. Lets take a look at this year's field:

11th Race - Woodbine - Sunday, September 14th, 2014

STAKES. 1 Mile Turf. Purse $1,000,000. Ricoh Woodbine Mile S. (Grade 1). FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS AND UPWARD. (06:13 PM) (11)

PP	Horse	A/S	M/E	Wgt	Jockey	Trainer
1	River Seven	4 G	L	117	Campbell Jesse M.	Gonzalez Nicholas
2	Trade Storm (GB)	6 H	L	119	Spencer Jamie P.	Simcock David
3	Ancil	5 G	L	117	Stein Justin	Scott Joan
4	Silver Freak	5 G	L	117	Velazquez John R.	Lynch Brian A.
5	Kaigun	4 G	L	121	Husbands Patrick	Casse Mark E.
6	Dorsett	4 C	L	117	Contreras Luis	Lynch Brian A.
7	Lockout	5 H	L	117	Boulanger Gary	Casse Mark E.
8	Bobby's Kitten	3 C	L	112	Rosario Joel	Brown Chad C.
9	Jack Milton	4 C	L	119	Castellano Javier	Pletcher Todd A.
10	His Race To Win	4 C	L	119	Da Silva Eurico Rosa	Pierce Malcolm
11	Grand Arch	5 G	L	121	Moran David	Lynch Brian A.

River Seven (Johannesburg): 4th in the Sky Classic and 3rd in the Nijinsky. He had shown a ton of promise last year, but seems to have gone by the wayside this year. The good news is that his last two races have been better then the start of the year.

Trade Storm (Trade Fair (GB)): 2nd in the Strensall and an conditions race. 3rd in last year's WM and is coming into the race better then last year (where he finished third in his two races before). 

Ancil (City Zip): 14th in the King's Stand and 8th in the Turf Sprint. Second to last in lone G1 in North America, but that was as a 2yo. It's been awhile since he's gone at least a mile.

Silver Freak (Badge of Silver): Has been competing in Allowance/Optional Claiming or Allowance for his entire career (except for his two Maiden Special Weight races). He won last time out at Saratoga and makes his stakes debut in this race. Could be one to watch.

Kaigun (Northern Afleet): Won the Play the King and 5th in the UN. Better going shorter, but versatile enough to run well at a distance. The one to beat in here.

Dorsett (Artie Schiller): 4th in the Fourstardave and Nijinsky. Hasn't been better then 4th in over a year when he won the Mystic Lake Derby last year at Canterbury.

Lockout (Limehouse): 2nd in the Play the King and 3rd in the Highlander. Has never won a stakes race, but has been close many times before. Talented, but not sure if he will be able to find the winner's circle here.

Bobby's Kitten (Kitten's Joy): Lone 3yo in the race. 2nd in the Hall of Fame and 8th in the Belmont Derby. Was third in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

Jack Milton (War Front): 3rd in the Fourstardave and 5th in the Shoemaker. Was considered one of the top 3yo turf males last year. Was 3rd in both the Jamaica and Secretariat.

His Race to Win (Stormy Atlantic): Certainly has a chance to win. Won the Seagram and 3rd in the Dominion Day. The downside is that both of those races where on poly, but he has turf experience.

Grand Arch (Arch): 2nd in the Fourstardave and won the King Edward. Ran well at Woodbine last year going longer. Has never finished off the board while running there.

Picks

Win- Kaigun

Place- Grand Arch

Show- Lockout

I thought I would have time to do a video this week, but unfortnally I don't. They will return in 2 weeks for Super Saturday. 

Prix du Haras de Fresnay-Le-Buffard Jacques le Marois Recap

Juddmonte's homebred Kingman (GB) (Invincible Spirit (IRE)) is well on his way to put his name alongside possibly Juddmonte's greatest horse Frankel with his win today in the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le Marois at Deauville. Anodin (IRE) (Anaaba) was second and Olympic Glory (IRE) (Choisir (AUS)) finished third. Kingman was ridden by James Doyle and trained by John Gosden.

Out of the mare Zenda (GB) (Zamindar), Kingman has 8 starts with 7 wins, 1 second and 0 thirds with earnings of about $1,623,564.53 US.

Replay not available at the moment

Kingman has now earned a spot into this year's BC Mile.

BC Memories: 1998 Mile

Before 1998, only a handful of horses where able to win a Breeders' Cup race in back to back years. Prestonwood Farm & Wallstreet Racing Stable's Da Hoss (Gone West) had won the 1996 Mile at Woodbine and had participated in the 1995 Sprint. Injuries forced him to skip the 1997 Mile which was won by Spinning World (Nureyev) who Da Hoss had defeated the previous year.

Da Hoss was ready to run in the 1998 edition at Churchill Downs and had only one race in-between the races at Colonial. He was would be facing a nice field that included the 1997 BC Juvenile winner and Horse of the Year Favorite Trick (Phone Trick), Europe's superstar Desert Prince (IRE) (Green Desert), 1995 Arlington Million winner Labeeb (GB) (Lear Fan) who was coming off a win in the Woodbine Mile, as well as Among Men (Zilzal) who was being ridden by Gary Stevens who rode Da Hoss in his 96 win.

Now being ridded by John Velazquez, Da Hoss was for most of the race sitting around sixth. In the stretch, it looked like that San Francisco Mile winner Hawksley Hill (IRE) (Rahy) came from 14th to duel with Da Hoss. The former briefly got the lead, but the latter was able to come back to win his second Mile win. Labeeb finished third.

Replay:



This gave more meaning to his trainer Michael Dickerson's nickname "The Mad Genius". Da Hoss now lives at Kentucky Horse Park in their Hall of Champions with 95 Classic winner Cigar, 03 and 04 Classic participant Funny Cide, 94 Classic participant Go For Gin.

(Notes: Also in the race was Cape Cross (IRE) whose daughter Ouija Board (GB) would follow in Da Hoss' footsteps in winning non-consecutive BC races (F/M Turf), Dickerson would go onto train Tapit who is the sire of Juvenile (male and female) winners Hansen and Stardom Bound.)

Race Recap: Shoemaker Mile

Anthony Fanticola and Joseph Scardino's Obviously (IRE) (Choisir (AUS)) stamped his ticket back to the Breeders' Cup Mile with a win in the Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita going gate to wire despite getting pressure early. Summer Front (War Front) finished, and Tom's Tribute (Lion Heart) and Silento (Silent Name (JPN)) dead-heated for third. The winner is trained by Phil D'Amato and ridden by Joe Talamo. This was D'Amato's first Grade 1 under his name, but he was the assistant for Mike Mitchell who had trained Obviously before his retirement.

Bred by Deidre Cogan, Obviously is out of the mare Leala (IRE) (Montjeu (IRE)). He has 20 starts (all, but three in North America) with 11 wins, 4 seconds and 2 thirds and earnings of $1,337,361.

Replay:

Race Preview: Shoemaker Mile

Santa Anita holds it's first WAYI race of the year on Saturday with the Shoemaker Mile. This is for the Mile division.

The Field:

7th Race - Santa Anita Park - Saturday, June 14th, 2014 STAKES. 1 Mile Turf. Purse $400,000. Shoemaker Mile S. (Grade 1). FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS AND UPWARD. (04:00 PM) (7)
PP Horse A/S M/E Wgt Jockey Trainer
1 Obviously (IRE) 6 G L 121 Talamo Joseph D'Amato Philip
2 Jack Milton 4 C L 119 Castellano Javier Pletcher Todd A.
3 Tom's Tribute 4 C L 119 Desormeaux Kent J. Cassidy James M.
4 Winning Prize (ARG) 5 H L 124 Nakatani Corey S. Drysdale Neil D.
5 Summer Front 5 H L 119 Bravo Joe Clement Christophe
6 Pulpit's Express 5 G L 119 Van Dyke Drayden Sadler John W.
7 Silentio 5 H L 119 Espinoza Victor Mandella Gary

Horse Preview:

Obviously (IRE) (Choisir (AUS)): Won the American Stakes in his last start after finishing his 2013 season with a 5th in the BC Mile. Is the defending champion of this race and could spring board him to being a contender again in this year's Mile again.

Jack Milton (War Front): Won the Poker and an allowance before that. 6th in lone West Coast start after finishing in the top three in several stakes last year including the Secretariat and Jamaica. Interesting choice for the win spot.

Tom's Tribute (Lion Heart): Won the Thunder Road and 7th in the Kilroe before that. The last 6 starts have been on the SA surface. Each time it was either a 1st/2nd or off the board completely. If the form holds, he in theory would finish off the board in this race.

Winning Prize (ARG) (Pure Prize): Won the Kilroe Mile in his last, before that won the Arcadia. Hasn't done much wrong since coming to the US last August. He's a G1 winner in his native Argentina. Will challenge Obviously at the front.

Summer Front (War Front): 2nd in the Fort Marcy at Belmont after an off the board finish in the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap. Won the Ft. Lauderdale in his season debut and well in California before (2nd in the Citation). Speed duel will help him then hurt.

Pulpit's Express (Lucky Pulpit): Sire has been hot the last 5 weeks. That being said this horse has finished at best 4th in both of his stakes races that where run in 2012. He did win his last race, an allowance against fellow CA breds.

Silentio (Silent Name (JPN)): 3rd in the American after a 5th in the Kilroe. Won the Citation and was 3rd in the BC Mile to Wise Dan last year. Really tough to leave him out of my top three, but there are very horses in the race that he might be up against it here.

Picks:

Win- Jack Milton

Place- Summer Front

Show- Winning Prize

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