Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes Racing Roundup

   Trainer Doug O’Neill just might have a golden opportunity today to cash in on the $1 million purse of the Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes (G3) at Delta Downs racetrack and casino when he sends the 5-2 morning line favorite Goldencents and Know More, the 5-2 third-choice, to the starting gate in a field of nine 2-year-old thoroughbreds.
   Goldencents won his maiden debut with an impressive 7¼-length romp at Del Mar on September 2. He followed that performance with a respectable second-place finish in the Champagne Stakes (G1) to Shanghai Bobby who went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Stakes (G1) and will most likely be selected as the champion 2-year-old.
   As a 2-year-old, Into Mischief, the sire of Goldencents, finished second in the Hollywood Prevue Stakes (G3) and won the 8½-furlong CashCall Futurity (G1) in a time of 1:40.82 – just a few ticks off of the record time of 1:40.74 set by Afternoon Deelites and the second fastest time of 1:40.78 set by Valiant Nature.    
   Banker’sGold, the sire of Goldencents’ dam Golden Works, was a pretty good sprinter that was able to carry his speed to victory in the 9-furlong Peter Pan Stakes (G2).
   If Goldencents repeats the form of his previous races, he should be competitive in the Jackpot.
   Know More comes into the race off of a disappointing effort in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at Santa Anita Park where he finished 13^th in a 14-horse field. Prior to that, Know More won his maiden debut in the Best Pal Stakes (G2) and he finished second in both the Del Mar Futurity (G1) and the Frontrunner Stakes (G1).
   Know More is a much better horse than his performance on the turf would suggest and I’m willing to overlook his last race. A return to his previous form will make him competitive. 
   Central Banker, a son of Speightstown, is an interesting long shot at 6-1 morning line odds. In four starts, Central Banker has never been out of the money and he comes into today’s race off of an impressive 5-length romp in a 6½-furlong race at Churchill Downs on October 28.
   Central Banker has never run in a route race but he shouldn’t have a problem stretching out to 8½-furlongs.
   Speightstown was a champion sprinter but his son Haynesfield was competitive at routes winning the 9-furlong Discovery Handicap (G3) and Empire Classic Handicap (twice). He also won the 9-furlong Suburban Handicap (G2) and 10-furlong Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1). 
   Go For Gin, the damsire of Central Banker, was a competitive route racer. As a 2-year-old, He won the one mile Chief’s Crown Stakes and the 9-furlong Remsen Stakes (G2). As a 3-year-old, Go For Gin won the Kentucky Derby (G1) and finished second in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2), Wood Memorial Stakes (G1), Preakness Stakes (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1).
   I look for Central Banker to be competitive in the Jackpot. 
   Bern Identity (7-2) has never been out of the money in five starts. He comes into today’s race a 3-length victory in the one mile Jean Laffitte Stakes at Delta Downs and he’s been training good at the track with a bullet work out on November 10.
   Jockey Paco Lopez who guided Bern Identity to victory in the Jean Laffitte Stakes retains the mount for today’s race.
   The Jackpot is a qualifying race for the Kentucky Derby. The winner will receive 10 points, the second-place finisher will receive four points, the third-place finisher will receive 2 points and the fourth-place finisher will receive 1 point.
   After the race, I’ll post the updated list of Kentucky Derby qualifying leaders at the end of this blog.

Kentucky Derby 2013 Leaderboard

(Updated November, 17, 2012)

Individual Leaders, total points

Shanghai Bobby, 20

Goldencents, 14

Joha, 10

Power Broker, 10

River Seven, 10

Steeler, 10

Artigiano, 4

Bern Identity, 4

Capo Bastone, 4

Dynamic Sky, 4

He’s Had Enough, 4

Know More, 4

Tesseron, 4

Fortify, 3

Al Waab, 2

Indiano Jones, 2

Java’s War, 2

Mylute, 2

Archwarrior, 1

Carving, 1

Birdman, 1

Five Iron, 1

Hightail, 1

Pataky Kid, 1

Royal Lodge Stakes (Group 2), Newmarket, September 29, 2012

1. Steeler,10

2. Artigiano,4

3. Al Waab,2

4. Birdman,1

Frontrunner Stakes (G1), Santa Anita Park, September 29, 2012

1. Power Broker, 10

2. Know More, 4

3. Capo Bastone, 2

4. Carving, 1

Foxwoods Champagne Stakes (G1), Belmont Park, October 6, 2012

1. Shanghai Bobby, 10

2. Goldencents, 4

3. Fortify, 2

4. Archwarrior, 1

Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity (G1), Keeneland, October 6, 2012

1. Joha, 10

2. Dynamic Sky, 4

3. Java’s War, 2

4. Pataky Kid, 1

Grey Stakes (G3), Woodbine, October 7, 2012

1. River Seven, 10

2. Tesseron, 4

3. Indiano Jones, 2

4. Five Iron, 1

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Stakes (G1), Santa Anita Park, November 3, 2012

1. Shanghai Bobby, 10

2. He’s Had Enough, 4

3. Capo Bastone, 2

4. Fortify, 1

Delta Downs Jackpot (G3), Delta Downs, November 17, 2012

1. Goldencents, 10

2. Bern Identity, 4

3. Mylute, 2,

4. Hightail, 1

 

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Stakes Racing Roundup

Undefeated in four starts, Shanghai Bobby will put his untarnished record on the line this Saturday when he goes to the starting gate as the 2-1 morning line favorite in the $2 million Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park.

Only nine juvenile colts will go to the post in the 29^th running of the prestigious stakes race and, with a maximum of 14 possible entries, one has to wonder if the race did not fill because of the entry of Shanghai Bobby who’s been dominant in all four of his starts.

In April, Shanghai Bobby easily won his maiden debut by 4-lengths at Aqueduct racetrack. Since then, he’s won the Track Barron Stakes, Hopeful Stakes (G2) and Champagne Stakes (G1) by 9¾-lengths combined. And he shouldn’t have a problem stretching out to the 8½-furlong distance of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Stakes (G1).

The success of Shanghai Bobby is somewhat similar to that of his sire, Harlan’s Holiday, who was 4-2-0 in six starts as a two year old winning the Iroquois Stakes (G3), Miller Genuine Draft Cradle Stakes, Cleveland Kindergarten Stakes and the Hoover Stakes.

As a 3-year-old, Harlan’s Holiday finished second in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) and Fountain of Youth Stakes (G1). He followed up with a win in the Florida Derby (G1) and Blue Grass Stakes (G1) and went into the 2002 Kentucky Derby as the 6-1 favorite but finished seventh in a field of 18.

A win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile will make Shanghai Bobby the early favorite for the 2013 Kentucky Derby. However, the distaff pedigree of Shanghai Bobby is not as strong as I’d like to see in a potential Derby prospect.

Orientate, the damsire of Shanghai Bobby, was a champion sprinter that won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) as well as the graded stakes Forego Handicap (G1), the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G2) and the Aristides Handicap (G3). Orientate was also able to stretch out his speed to win the 8½-furlong Indiana Derby. Carson City, the sire of the second dam Steel Band, also adds speed influence to the distaff pedigree.

Jockey Rosie Napravnik has done a masterful job guiding Shanghai Bobby to victory in all four starts and I look for them to be competitive in the Juvenile. But their courage could be severely tested by Power Broker (5-2) who, in his last race, broke his maiden and was an impressive 6½-length winner of the Frontrunner Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park on September 29.

Power Broker has improved his performance in each of his previous four starts and if he continues to move forward, he’ll be tough to beat in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Stakes (G1).

Pulpit, the sire of Power Broker, did not race as a 2-year-old. But as a 3-year-old, he had an outstanding 4-1-0 record going into the 1997 Kentucky Derby with a win in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and Blue Grass Stakes (G1) and a second-place finish in the Florida Derby to Captain Bodgit.

As a sire, Pulpit has sired the multimillion dollar winners Pit Fighter (JPN), Essence of Dubai, Pyro, Rutherienne and Corinthian.

Wild Again, the damsire of Power Broker, is also the damsire of Pyro. So Power Broker is bred on the same successful Pulpit, Wild Again nick that produced one of Pulpit’s best runners - Pyro.

Wild Again was a very good middle-distance runner that won the 9-furlong Oaklawn Handicap (G2), the New Orleans Handicap (G2) and Meadowland Cup Handicap (G1). He also was able to stretch out to 10-furlongs and win the 1984 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).

In some respects, this race is shaping up like the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Stakes (G1) where Pyro finished second to the speedy, undefeated War Pass.

Time will tell if Power Broker, a close relative to Pyro, can turn the tables on the speedy, undefeated Shanghai Bobby.

A long shot I like in this race is He’s Had Enough (20-1). On paper, it looks like He’s Had Enough is going backwards instead of forward which is what one hopes a young 2-year-old Thorougbred to be doing at this time of year.

In all three of his previous starts, He’s Had Enough has shown a great deal of immaturity. However, his recent bullet work out has caught my attention. He’s never fired a bullet before and maybe he’s ready to get serious and run the best race of his career.

He’s Had Enough got off to a good start winning his maiden debut by a half-length but his immaturity showed in his run down the stretch.

His lack of focus and maturity showed in his second race, however, he managed to close from last to finish sixth only 2¼-lengths behind the victor Dry Summer. Just a few ticks off of the finish time of 1:35.16 for the mile, He’s Had Enough is right in the time zone that I like to see for young colts I think may have potential to be competitive.

In his third start, He’s Had Enough was hopelessly stuck behind a wall of horses going into the stretch of the Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity Stakes (G1) at Keeneland but he still managed to finish only 4¾-lengths off of the victor Joha.

And with Tapit as his sire and Dixieland Band as the damsire, He’s Had Enough has the breeding to be competitive. Tapit sired Hansen, winner of the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Stakes (G1). Dixieland Band is the damsire of Street Sense – winner of the 2006 Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Stakes (G1).

I know it’s a stretch and a lot will depend on how well he looks in the paddock and post parade. If he looks good and you’re feeling lucky, he may be worthy of a wager.

In three starts, Fortify (9-2) has never been out of the money.

Fortify doesn’t seem to have the same speed or turn of foot as Power Broker and Shanghai Bobby who’s already beaten him twice. But his third-place finish in the Champagne Stakes (G1) wasn’t that bad and if Fortify can repeat that performance, then he should be competitive.

The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Stakes (G1) is the only race on the Breeders’ Cup card that is a qualifying race for the Kentucky Derby. The winner will receive 10 points, the second-place finisher will receive four points, the third-place finisher will receive 2 points and the fourth-place finisher will receive 1 point.

After the race, I’ll post the updated list of Kentucky Derby qualifying leaders at the end of this blog.

Kentucky Derby 2013 Leaderboard

(Updated November 3, 2012)

Individual Leaders, total points

Shanghai Bobby, 20

Joha, 10

Power Broker, 10

River Seven, 10

Steeler, 10

Artigiano, 4

Capo Bastone, 4

Dynamic Sky, 4

Goldencents, 4

He’s Had Enough, 4

Know More, 4

Tesseron, 4

Fortify, 3

Al Waab, 2

Indiano Jones, 2

Java’s War, 2

Archwarrior, 1

Carving, 1

Birdman, 1

Five Iron, 1

Pataky Kid, 1

Royal Lodge Stakes (Group 2), Newmarket, September 29, 2012

1. Steeler,10

2. Artigiano,4

3. Al Waab,2

4. Birdman,1

Frontrunner Stakes (G1), Santa Anita Park, September 29, 2012

1. Power Broker, 10

2. Know More, 4

3. Capo Bastone, 2

4. Carving, 1

Foxwoods Champagne Stakes (G1), Belmont Park, October 6, 2012

1. Shanghai Bobby, 10

2. Goldencents, 4

3. Fortify, 2

4. Archwarrior, 1

Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity (G1), Keeneland, October 6, 2012

1. Joha, 10

2. Dynamic Sky, 4

3. Java’s War, 2

4. Pataky Kid, 1

Grey Stakes (G3), Woodbine, October 7, 2012

1. River Seven, 10

2. Tesseron, 4

3. Indiano Jones, 2

4. Five Iron, 1

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Stakes (G1), Santa Anita Park, November 3, 2012

1. Shanghai Bobby, 10

2. He’s Had Enough, 4

3. Capo Bastone, 2

4. Fortify, 1

Grey Stakes Racing Roundup

Uncaptured is undefeated in four starts, winning several of the major stakes races for Canadian 2-year-old colts, and today he’ll put his put his record on the line when the goes to the starting gate as the morning line even-money favorite in the 106^th running of the $200,000 Grey Stakes (G3) at Woodbine racetrack.

In May, Uncaptured won his maiden debut by a nose and since that squeaker he’s followed up with a 5½-length romp in the Clarendon Stakes, a one-length win in the Vandal Stakes, and a 3¼-length victory in the Swynford Stakes.

Today’s race is Uncaptured’s debut in graded-stakes competition and his first attempt to run a route of ground. But with Lion Heart as his sire and Arch as his damsire, he should be able to easily stretch out to 8½-furlongs.

As a 2-year-old, Lion Heart won the 7-furlong Hollywood Prevue Stakes (G3) and the 8½-furlong Hollywood Futurity (G1). Arch was a pretty good middle-distance runner who was able to stretch out to win 10-furlong Super Derby (G1).

If Uncaptured repeats the form of his previous races, he’ll be tough to beat.

Uncaptured is trained by Mark Casse who also has Indiano Jones (10-1) and Star Contender (12-1) entered in the Grey Stakes (G3). Of those two, I like Indiano Jones the best.

In his second start, Indiano Jones broke his maiden by 1¼-lengths in a 7-furlong sprint race at Woodbine on August 19. His time for the race of 1:22.87 in on par with Uncaptured’s 1:22.49 that he set in the Swynford Stakes. Indiano Jones followed up his maiden win with a third-place finish in the Summer Stakes (G2) where he was beaten by two lengths.

With A.P. Indy as his sire and Touch Gold as his damsire, Indiano Jones has the breeding to be competitive in today’s race but he’ll have to improve his game if he’s going to earn graded stakes honors.

In three starts, River Seven (4-1) is still a maiden but he’s improved his game with each start and I don’t look for him to be a maiden much longer.

In his maiden debut, River Seven finished third by nine lengths to Uncaptured in the Clarendon Stakes. He narrowed the margin in his next race and was a one-length runner-up to Uncaptured in the Vandal Stakes.

In his third start and first route race, River Seven encountered traffic problems at the top of the stretch but rallied to finish second by a half-length to Tesseron (3-1) who is also entered in today’s race.

Johannesburg, the sire of River Seven, was a pretty good middle-distance horse that won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Stakes (G1). Chester House, the damsire of River Seven, was a multiple Group Stakes Champion in England. He did his best racing at 10-furlongs winning such prestigious races as the Brigadier Gerard Stakes (G3), Huxley Stakes (G1) and Arlington Million Stakes (G1).

If River Seven continues to move forward, he should be able to stretch out and be competitive in the Grey Stakes (G3).

Kentucky Derby 2013 Leaderboard

(Updated October 7, 2012)

 

Individual Leaders, total points

Joha, 10

Power Broker, 10

River Seven, 10

Shanghai Bobby, 10

Steeler, 10

Artigiano, 4

Dynamic Sky, 4

Goldencents, 4

Know More, 4

Tesseron, 4

Al Waab, 2

Capo Bastone, 2

Fortify, 2

Indiano Jones, 2

Java’s War, 2

Archwarrior, 1

Carving, 1

Birdman, 1

Five Iron, 1

Pataky Kid, 1

Royal Lodge Stakes (Group 2), Newmarket, September 29, 2012

1. Steeler,10

2. Artigiano,4

3. Al Waab,2

4. Birdman,1

Frontrunner Stakes (G1), Santa Anita Park, September 29, 2012

1. Power Broker, 10

2. Know More, 4

3. Capo Bastone, 2

4. Carving, 1

Foxwoods Champagne Stakes (G1), Belmont Park, October 6, 2012

1. Shanghai Bobby, 10

2. Goldencents, 4

3. Fortify, 2

4. Archwarrior, 1

Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity (G1), Keeneland, October 6, 2012

1. Joha, 10

2. Dynamic Sky, 4

3. Java’s War, 2

4. Pataky Kid, 1

Grey Stakes (G3), Woodbine, October 7, 2012

1. River Seven, 10

2. Tesseron, 4

3. Indiano Jones, 2

4. Five Iron, 1

Champagne Stakes Racing Roundup

Todd Pletcher works hard to be a leading trainer. Of the 21 young Thoroughbreds nominated to the Foxwoods Champagne Stakes (G1), Pletcher trains 10 of those horses and today he’ll send three of them – Archwarrior, Shanghai Bobbby and Micromanage – to the Belmont Park starting gate in the 142^nd running of the prestigious $400,000 stakes race.

Archwarrior is the 5-2 morning line favorite. Shanghai Bobby and California shipper Goldencents are the 3-1 morning line second choice while Micromanage is the 5-1 morning line third choice in what appears to be a very contentious race of fast 2-year-olds.

Archwarrior comes into the race off of a 3¼-length maiden win in a 6-furlong sprint race at Saratoga Race Course on August 30. But he’s yet to show his spirit in stakes competition and this is his first attempt at running a route of ground.

However, with Arch as his sire and Seeking The Gold as his damsire, Archwarrior will not have a problem stretching out to a mile and I look for him to be competitive in today’s race.

Undefeated in three starts, Shanghai Bobby broke his maiden by four lengths at Aqueduct racetrack on April 19. He followed that romp with a one length victory in the Track Barron Stakes at Belmont Park on June 27. He finally graduated with graded stakes honors posting a 3¾-length win in the Hopeful Stakes (G2) at Saratoga on September 3.

Harlan’s Holiday, the sire of Shanghai Bobby, was competitive as a two year old winning the Iroquois Stakes (G3), Miller Genuine Draft Cradle Stakes, Cleveland Kindergarten Stakes and the Hoover Stakes.

Orientate, the damsire of Shanghai Bobby, was a champion sprinter and Carson City, the sire of the second dam Steel Band, also adds some speed influence to the pedigree of Shanghai Bobby.

Jockey Rosie Napravnik has done a masterful job guiding Shanghai Bobby to three victories in three starts and I look for them to be competitive in today’s race. But their courage could be severely tested by the California shipper Goldencents.

Trained by Doug O’Neill, Goldencents comes into today’s race off of an impressive 7¼-length romp in his maiden debut at Del Mar on September 2.

As a 2-year-old, Into Mischief, the sire of Goldencents, finished second in the Hollywood Prevue Stakes (G3) and won the 8½-furlong CashCall Futurity (G1) in a time of 1:40.82 – just a few ticks off of the record time of 1:40.74 set by Afternoon Deelites and the second fastest time of 1:40.78 set by Valiant Nature.

Banker’s Gold, the sire of Goldencents’ dam Golden Works, was a pretty good sprinter that was able to carry his speed to victory in the 9-furlong Peter Pan Stakes (G2).

If Goldencents repeats the form of his maiden win, he’ll be tough in the Champagne Stakes.

The young horse I like best in this race is the Distorted Humor colt Fortify (6-1) who was an impressive 5½-length winner in this maiden debut on August 4 at Saratoga.

In his next race – the Hopeful Stakes (G1) – Fortify was bumped severely at the start by Lawn Man but recovered well and still managed to get up for second place, 3¾-lengths behind winner Shanghai Bobby.

If he stays out of trouble and repeats the form of his maiden win, Fortify should be competitive in today’s race.

Honorable mention goes to the 12-1 long shot Chief Havoc who ships in for today’s race from England. With Giant’s Causeway as his sire and A.P. Indy as his damsire, Chief Havoc has the breeding to be competitive in today’s race and if he looks good in the paddock he may be worthy of a wager.

Giant’s Causeway sired First Samurai who won the 2005 Champagne Stakes (G1) and A.P. Indy sired the 2000 victor A.P. Valentine.