Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Southwest Stakes Wrap Up: Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® Shows Prowess As Breeding, Sales, Racing Analytical Tool


Consistently Beats Brisnet Prime Power As Handicapping Tool

©2018 Calvin L. Carter and Dallas Carter. All rights reserved.

Loyal followers of my blog know the Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® is a proven software analytical tool that produces positive results and equine champions from breeding, sales, racing and handicapping.
Blog followers that used a two dollar wager with my Southwest Stakes (G3) top picks and honorable mention could have potentially cashed in on the exacta ($101.80), trifecta ($637.40) and superfecta ($1,372.80). My long shot pick, My Boy Jack, paid $19.60 for the win.
Here’ a look at the Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® ranking and finish of the horses entered in the Southwest Stakes (G3):


In the first chart, My Boy Jack was ranked second and he finished first. Mourinho was ranked fourth and that is where he finished. In addition to the Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile®, we also have developed a Behavior Index which allows us to measure the potential behavior of a foal before he is even born.
Horses that have low profile scores like Sporting Chance in the first chart can potentially be moved up in ranking by their Behavior Index. In the first chart he’s ranked last but in the second chart he’s ranked second and finished third.
Also, if horses with high profile scores like Kentucky Club and Zing Zang fail to live up to their breeding the Behavior Index can move them down in ranking.
With and A+ Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® ranking, Kentucky Club was originally ranked first but his Behavior Index ranks him fifth and he finished sixth. Zing Zang was originally ranked third but his Behavior Index ranked him sixth and he finished fifth.
In my blog writeup, I also mentioned Retirement Fund because his Behavior Index potentially moved him up but adding that variable to his final score was not justifiable as he finished seventh which is where he was originally ranked.

*****

In 2015, my brother Dallas and I debuted the Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® software and have proven that it is a valuable racing, handicapping tool.
Since then, we have also proven that the profile is a valuable breeding  and sales analytical tool. In 2016, Classic Champion Thoroughbreds, LLC profiled 101 yearlings at the Keeneland September sale (http://bit.ly/2cS8Mwu) and we now have, from the sales list, nine colts that are stakes winners or stakes placed.
Graded stakes winners from our 2016 sales list are: Eclipse Champion Two Year Old Male Good Magic (Hip 845), Free Drop Billy (Hip 104) and Archaggelos (Hip 2138).
Graded stakes-placed colts include: Solomini (Hip 662), Vino Rosso (Hip 528) and Hollywood Star (Hip 395).
Stakes-placed colts from our sales list are: Wentz (Hip 1029), Stronger (Hip 4154) and Tigerbeach (Hip 2001).
The ability to know the potential of a horse before he goes to the breeding shed, sales ring and racetrack is of utmost importance.
The Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile®, which is the indicator of that horse’s potential, is a measurement of the breeding influences found in the five generation pedigree. The profile assigns each horse a numerical score and grade ranking. The higher the score, the more potential that horse has to become a quality stakes horse or classic champion.
The empirical data gathered by the robust power of the Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® software easily shows which horses have the potential to be quality stakes winners or classic champions. And we call tell prospective breeders the potential of the foal before it is even born.
The ability of the Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® to zero in on horses that have the best potential in breeding, sales and racing, and the results from our 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sales analysis and Southwest Stakes, are just a couple of many examples since the debut of our software.
From foal to finish line™ the Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® is the analytical tool you need for breeding, purchasing at auction and racing equine champions: http://bit.ly/2E99liF.
The 2018 sales are just around the corner. For a free initial consultation, please contact us at our website or at our toll-free number: (844) 346-2223.

Sunday, February 18, 2018

Southwest Stakes Racing Roundup


©2018 Calvin L. Carter. All rights reserved.

The Road to the Kentucky Derby takes us on Monday to Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas where MOURINHO will go to the starting gate as the as the 2-1 morning line favorite in the 53rd running of the $500,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park. Post time is 6:10 p.m. ET.
Mourinho comes into this race for Hall of Fame Trainer Bob Baffert with a 2-2-0 record in four starts including an impressive victory in the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn on January 15. Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

MOURINHO was clear early, got over to the rail on the first turn, was tapped once and shown the whip while ridden out for the win.

Mourinho led from gate to wire and pulled away from the herd at the top of the stretch win with authority by 3¼ lengths.
Super Saver, the sire of Mourinho, was a Classic Champion Thoroughbred and my pick to win the 2010 Kentucky Derby.
As a two year old, Super Saver was 2-1-0 in four starts and finished his racing season with a win in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) making him, along with Street Sense and Nyquist, among a select group of two year olds to win a major end-of-year prep race that went on to victory in the Derby.
As a three-year-old, Super Saver compiled a 1-1-1 record in six starts with a third-place finish in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) and a gutsy second-place finish to Line of David in the Arkansas Derby (G1) in route to victory in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
Mourinho has a C Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® and his Behavior Index makes him potentially competitive in this race.
A long shot I like is MY BOY JACK (12-1) who comes into this race for trainer Keith Desormeaux with a 1-3-1 record in seven starts including a win in the Zuma Beach Stakes (video), a seventh-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Stakes (video) and a third-place finish in the Sham Stakes (G3). Here’s the video and chart call of the Sham:

MY BOY JACK pulled and saved ground stalking the pace, came out leaving the second turn and three wide into the stretch and edged a rival for the show.

The one mile Sham was the second start the dirt for My Boy Jack who finished a respectable third to Kentucky Derby qualifier McKinzie (ranked 5th).
Creative Cause, the sire of My Boy Jack, was a multiple graded stakes winner that compiled a 4-2-3 record in 10 starts with $1,039,000 in career earnings.
As a two-year-old, Creative Cause compiled a 3-1-1 record in five starts with wins in the Best Pal Stakes (G2) and Norfolk Stakes (G1). He finished second in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) and third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Stakes (G1).
As a three-year-old, Creative Cause was 1-1-2 in five starts. He finished third in his debut as a three-year-old in the San Vicente Stakes (G2) and followed that with a win in the San Felipe Stakes (G2) and a second-place finish in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) en route to a respectable fifth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
Creative Cause finished his racing career with a third-place finish in the Preakness Stakes (G1).
With an A Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile®, My Boy Jack is the best-bred colt in this herd. He’s never raced beyond a mile but his breeding indicates that he could be competitive as the races get longer and he has room to improve in his third start on the dirt.
COMBATANT (6-1) comes into this race with a 1-2-0 record in four starts for trainer Steve Asmussen including a second-place finish in both the Springboard Mile and Smarty Jones Stakes. Here’s the video and chart call of his last race:

COMBATANT stalked the pace inside, angled four wide in the stretch but couldn’t gain on the winner.

Combatant showed good ability in the Smarty Jones Stakes chasing Mourinho in the stretch to finish a respectable second and best the rest of the field by eight lengths.
Scat Daddy, the sire of Combatant, was a multiple graded stakes winner who compiled a 5-1-1 record in nine starts with $1,334,300 in career earnings.
As a two-year-old, Scat Daddy was 3-0-1 in five starts with wins in the Sanford Stakes (G2) and Champagne Stakes (G1), and he finished second in the Hopeful Stakes (G1).
In his season debut as a 3-year-old, Scat Daddy finished third in the one-mile Holy Bull Stakes (G3) and followed up with wins in the 9 furlong Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and Florida Derby (G1) in route to a eighteenth-place finish in the Derby.
His best runners on the Derby Trail include Daddy Long Legs, Daddy Nose Best, El Kabeir, Frac Daddy, Azar and Dice Flavor who was my long shot pick to win the 2013 El Camino Real Derby (G3).
Combatant also has a C Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® and I look for him to run a good race.
Undefeated in two starts, RETIREMENT FUND (15-1) is stepping up in class and comes into this race off an Allowance Optional Claiming race at the Fair Grounds on January 20. Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

RETIREMENT FUND was away alertly and went to the front, raced inside on the first turn, set the pace through solid fractions, vied inside early on the far turn then moved to the two path, responded well when set down in upper stretch, came under right-handed whip outside the furlong marker, switched to the left-handed whip outside the sixteenth pole and held on under strong urging.

Retirement Fund led from the start and pulled away in the stretch to win by two lengths.
Eskendereya, the sire of Retirement Fund, was a competitive colt, and my favorite, on the 2010 Kentucky Derby Trail until he was sidelined with an injury. During his career, Eskendereya compiled a 4-1-0 record in six starts which culminated in a 9¾ length romp in the 2010 Wood Memorial Stakes (G1).
Other key stakes wins include a runaway win by 8½ lengths in the Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and an impressive 7¼ length victory Pilgrim Stakes.
Retirement Fun has a D Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® but his Behavior Index could potentially make him competitive.
Honorable mention goes to Sporting Chance (9-2) who comes into this race off a win in the Hopeful Stakes (G1) last September. Despite the layoff, Sporting Chance has been training well at Oaklawn firing several bullet work outs.


*****

This is the sixth consecutive year for Churchill Downs to use a point system to determine eligibility to get into the Kentucky Derby starting gate. A total of 36 races comprise the Road to the Kentucky Derby and a significant change to the schedule is the addition of the Springboard Mile at Remington Park on December 17.
In addition to the Japan road to the Derby which features the Cattleya Sho Stakes (November 25), Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushan Stakes (December 13) and Hayacinth Stakes (February 2018), Churchill Downs has added a European road to Derby glory consisting of seven races: Juddmonte Beresford (September 24), Juddmonte Royal Lodge (September 30), Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère (October 1), Racing Post Trophy (October 28, Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes (March 1), Patton (March 2) and the Burradon (March 30).


2018 KENTUCKY DERBY LEADERBOARD
Ranking, total points, Trainer, Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings

1. Bravazo, 54, D. Wayne Lukas, $349,913
2. +Good Magic, 24, Chad Brown, $1,200,000
3. Firenze Fire, 24, Jason Servis, $567,500
4. Snapper Sinclair, 22, Steve Asmussen, $301,810
5. McKinzie, 20, Bob Baffert, $240,000
6. Instilled Regard, 19, Jerry Hollendorfer, $196,000
7. Bolt d’Oro, 14, Mick Ruis, $540,000
8. +Free Drop Billy, 14, Dale Romans, $467,200
9. +Solomini, 14, Bob Baffert, $436,000
10. Catholic Boy, 14, Jonathan Thomas, $330,000
11. Avery Island, 14, Kiaran McLaughlin, $320,000
12. Enticed, 13, Kiaran McLaughlin, $180,880
13. Greyvitos, 10, Adam Kitchingman, $300,000
14. Audible, 10, Todd Pletcher, $208,320
15. Mourinho, 10, Bob Baffert, $124,360
16. Lombo, 10, Mike Pender, $90,000
17. Noble Indy, 10, Todd Pletcher, $40,000
18. Combatant, 8, Steve Asmussen, $110,000
19. Tiz Mischief, 6, Dale Romans, $70,400
20. +Hollywood Star, 5, Dale Romans, $98,500
+ = Horses we picked as yearlings at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Good Magic = Eclipse Champion Two Year Old Male.


EUROPEAN ROAD LEADERBOARD

1. Saxon Warrior (JPN), 20, Aidan O’Brien, $245,017
2. Roaring Lion (USA), 14, John Gosden, $136,807
3. f-Happily (IRE), 10, Aidan O’Brien, $543,648
4. Olmedo (FR), 4, Jean-Claude Rouget, $113,505
5. Nelson (IRE), 4, Aidan O’Brien, $99,826
6. Delano Roosevelt (IRE), 4, Aidan O’Brien, $38,074
7. Masar (IRE), 2, Aidan O’Brien, $101,264
8. The Pentagon (IRE), 2, Aidan O’Brien, $71.981
9. Mildenberger (ENG), 2, Mark Johnston, $64,634
10. Warm the Voice (IRE), 2, Brendan Duke, $12,904
11. Verbal Dexterity (IRE), 1, Jim Bolger, $280,269
12. Kew Gardens (IRE), 1, Aidan O’Brien, $28,605
13. Woodmax (GER), 1, Nicolas Clement, $23,610
14. Petrus (IRE), 1, Brian Meehan, $7,182


JAPAN ROAD LEADERBOARD
Ranking, total points, Trainer, Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings

1. Le Vent Se Leve (JPN), 10, Kiyoshi Hagiwara, $464,985
2. Ruggero (JPN), 10, Yuichi Shikato, $178,045
3. Don Fortis (JPN), 4, Mitsunori Makiura, $437,283
4. Mic Ben Hur (JPN), 4, Yoshihiro Hatakeyama, $106,766
5. Haseno Pyro (JPN), Kenki Sato, $264,191
6. Meiner Yukitsubaki (JPN) 2, Noboru Takagi, $99,210
7. Dark Repulser (JPN), 1, Takashi Kanari, $184,087
8. Bronze Kay (JPN), 1, Koichi Tsunoda, $75,979

Friday, February 16, 2018

El Camino Real Derby Racing Roundup


©2018 Calvin L. Carter. All rights reserved.

After the running of the Risen Star Stakes (G2) at the Fair Grounds Saturday the Road to the Kentucky Derby takes us to California where CHOO CHOO has been tabbed as the 9-5 morning line favorite in $200,000 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields. Post time is 6:54 p.m. ET.
Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Choo Choo comes into this race with a 2-0-2 record in six starts including a win in the California Derby. Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

CHOO CHOO was well placed to the second turn, rallied four wide to the stretch, got to terms mid-stretch then pushed clear driving.  

Choo Choo took the lead in the stretch and pulled away to win his first stakes race by 1¾ lengths.
English Channel, the sire of Choo Choo, was a multiple graded stakes winner that compiled a 13-4-1 record in 23 starts with $5,319,028 in career earnings.
English Channel won his only start as a two year old in August of 2004 and made his debut as a three year old in March of 2005 finishing fourth in an Allowance race at Gulfstream Park.
During the rest of the season, English Channel compiled a 4-2-0 record in eight starts with stakes wins in the Woodlawn Stakes, Colonial Turf Club Stakes and the Virginia Derby (G3). He finished second in both the Secretariat Stakes (G1) and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes (G1).
As a four year old, English Channel made seven starts and compiled a 4-0-1 record with stakes wins in the Canadian Turf Handiap, Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes (G1), United Nations Stakes (G1) and the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes (G1).
English Channel made seven starts as a five year old and went 4-2-0 with stakes wins in the United Nations Stakes (G1), Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes (G1) and the John Deer Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1). He finished second in the Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes (G1).
Choo Choo has a B Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® and a recent bullet work out could have him ready to run a good race.
PAVED (2-1) is stepping up in class and with a 1-0-2 record in three starts, she comes into this race off a maiden win on the turf for trainer Michael McCarthy. Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

PAVED stalked the pace inside, came out on the second turn, bid three deep into the stretch to take the lead, kicked clear under left handed urging and drifted in and proved best.

Paved made a “smart rally” on the far turn and pulled away in the stretch to win by an impressive 5½ lengths. The split for the mile of 1:36.10 and final time of 1:47.78 for the nine furlongs is what I like to see in horses on the Derby trail.
Quality Road, the sire of Frank Conversation, easily won his maiden debut, and only race as a two year old, in November of 2008. In his debut as a three year old, he finished second in an allowance race at Gulfstream Park in January. He followed that in February with a 4¼ length win in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and in March, Quality Road ran to a 1¾ length win over Dunkirk in the Florida Derby (G1).
In late April, Quality Road developed a quarter crack on his right front foot and that prevented him from running in the Kentucky Derby. After a three month break, Quality Road returned to racing to win the Amsterdam Stakes (G2).
Quality Road completed his racing career with wins in the Hal’s Hope Stakes (G3), Donn Handicap (G1), Metropolitan Handicap (G1) and Woodward Stakes (G1). He finished third in the Travers Stakes (G1) and second in both the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) and Whitney Handiciap (G1). 
Paved has a C Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® and she repeats the form of her maiden win she could be tough to beat in the El Camino Real Derby.
In his last race, MUGARITZ (10-1) finished second to Choo Choo in the California Derby and he comes into this race with a 2-1-0 record in five starts for trainer Jonathan Wong. Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

MUGARITZ was rated to the second turn, bid three wide then eased in into the stretch, rallied when set down and was best of the rest.

Mugaritz ran behind the pace and could not close the gap between him and the victor but finished a respectable second in his stakes debut.
Dialed In, the sire of Mugaritz, won a 6½-furlong maiden special weight by a half a length at Churchill Downs in his only start as a two year old.
 As a three year old, Dialed In won the one mile Holy Bull Stakes, finished second in a 9-furlong Allowance Optional Claiming race at Gulfstream Park, and won the Florida Derby (G1) by a head over Shackleford en route to an eighth place-finish in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
On the Derby Trail, Dialed In’s best runner to date is Gunnevera who won the Saratoga Special Stakes (G2), Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes (G3), Xpressbet Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and the Tangelo Stakes. In addition, Gunnevera finished second in the Lambholm South Holy Bull Stakes (G2), third in the Xpressbet Florida Derby (G1) and second in the Travers Stakes (G1).
Mugaritz has a D Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® but his Behavior Index potentially makes him competitive in the stretch out to nine furlongs.
CITY PLAN (15-1) comes into this race with 2-0-0 record in five starts for trainer Eoin Harty including a fifth-place finish last out in the one mile Sham Stakes (G3). Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

CITY PLAN pulled and angled in outside a rival then stalked a bit off the rail to the stretch and weakened.

City Plan was only two or three lengths off the leaders entering the stretch but could not keep up. The mile distance may have been too short for him and he may benefit in the stretch out to nine furlongs in the El Camino.
Street Sense, the sire of City Plan, was a multiple graded stakes winner that compiled a 6-4-2 record in 13 starts with $4,383,200 in career earnings.
As a two year old, Street Sense finished third in both the Arlington-Washington Breeders’ Cup Futurity (G3) and the Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity (G1). He followed that with a win in the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Stakes (G1) and was tabbed as the Eclipse Champion Two Year Old.
 Street Sense won his season debut as a three year old in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) and finished second in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) en route to a 2¼ length win over Hard Spun in the 2007 Kentucky Derby.
With an A+ Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® City Plan is the best-bred colt in this race, however, he’s yet to fully live up to his breeding.
Honorable mention goes to Epical (10-1) who is stepping up in class and comes into this race off a maiden debut win. His Behavior Index could potentially make him competitive.


*****

This is the sixth consecutive year for Churchill Downs to use a point system to determine eligibility to get into the Kentucky Derby starting gate. A total of 36 races comprise the Road to the Kentucky Derby and a significant change to the schedule is the addition of the Springboard Mile at Remington Park on December 17.
In addition to the Japan road to the Derby which features the Cattleya Sho Stakes (November 25), Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushan Stakes (December 13) and Hayacinth Stakes (February 2018), Churchill Downs has added a European road to Derby glory consisting of seven races: Juddmonte Beresford (September 24), Juddmonte Royal Lodge (September 30), Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère (October 1), Racing Post Trophy (October 28, Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes (March 1), Patton (March 2) and the Burradon (March 30).


2018 KENTUCKY DERBY LEADERBOARD
Ranking, total points, Trainer, Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings

1. +Good Magic, 24, Chad Brown, $1,200,000
2. Firenze Fire, 24, Jason Servis, $567,500
3. McKinzie, 20, Bob Baffert, $240,000
4. Bolt d’Oro, 14, Mick Ruis, $540,000
5. +Free Drop Billy, 14, Dale Romans, $467,200
6. +Solomini, 14, Bob Baffert, $436,000
7. Catholic Boy, 14, Jonathan Thomas, $330,000
8. Avery Island, 14, Kiaran McLaughlin, $320,000
9. Instilled Regard, 14, Jerry Hollendorfer, $180,000
10. Enticed, 13, Kiaran McLaughlin, $180,880
11. Greyvitos, 10, Adam Kitchingman, $300,000
12. Audible, 10, Todd Pletcher, $208,320
13. Mourinho, 10, Bob Baffert, $124,360
14. Lombo, 10, Mike Pender, $90,000
15. Combatant, 8, Steve Asmussen, $110,000
16. Tiz Mischief, 6, Dale Romans, $70,400
17. +Hollywood Star, 5, Dale Romans, $98,500
18. Ayacara (GB), 5, Keith Desormeaux, $63,345
19. Bravazo, 4, D. Wayne Lukas, $109,913
20. Principe Guilherme, 4, Steve Asmussen, $40,000
+ = Horses we picked as yearlings at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Good Magic = Eclipse Champion Two Year Old Male.


EUROPEAN ROAD LEADERBOARD

1. Saxon Warrior (JPN), 20, Aidan O’Brien, $245,017
2. Roaring Lion (USA), 14, John Gosden, $136,807
3. f-Happily (IRE), 10, Aidan O’Brien, $543,648
4. Olmedo (FR), 4, Jean-Claude Rouget, $113,505
5. Nelson (IRE), 4, Aidan O’Brien, $99,826
6. Delano Roosevelt (IRE), 4, Aidan O’Brien, $38,074
7. Masar (IRE), 2, Aidan O’Brien, $101,264
8. The Pentagon (IRE), 2, Aidan O’Brien, $71.981
9. Mildenberger (ENG), 2, Mark Johnston, $64,634
10. Warm the Voice (IRE), 2, Brendan Duke, $12,904
11. Verbal Dexterity (IRE), 1, Jim Bolger, $280,269
12. Kew Gardens (IRE), 1, Aidan O’Brien, $28,605
13. Woodmax (GER), 1, Nicolas Clement, $23,610
14. Petrus (IRE), 1, Brian Meehan, $7,182


JAPAN ROAD LEADERBOARD
Ranking, total points, Trainer, Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings

1. Le Vent Se Leve (JPN), 10, Kiyoshi Hagiwara, $464,985
2. Ruggero (JPN), 10, Yuichi Shikato, $178,045
3. Don Fortis (JPN), 4, Mitsunori Makiura, $437,283
4. Mic Ben Hur (JPN), 4, Yoshihiro Hatakeyama, $106,766
5. Haseno Pyro (JPN), Kenki Sato, $264,191
6. Meiner Yukitsubaki (JPN) 2, Noboru Takagi, $99,210
7. Dark Repulser (JPN), 1, Takashi Kanari, $184,087
8. Bronze Kay (JPN), 1, Koichi Tsunoda, $75,979