Racing! Justify. What more do you need to know?

Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as we’re starting to get excited about a possible Triple Crown.

The Kentucky Derby is over and it’s on to the Preakness for some. But you know that.

We have a lot of content on the Derby, but we’re going to send you to our website for some of it.

For a recap of how Justify won the race, just click here.

Now, wonder how some of the other locals did in the Kentucky Derby? (Just click here.)

Photos? You like photos? (Just click here.)

Want more on Bolt d’Oro? Here’s a column by my friend, Bryce Miller, columnist at the San Diego Union Tribune, our sister paper, on Mick Ruis’ day. (Just click here.)

A few thoughts

Watching Justify win the Kentucky Derby was pretty amazing. You could say he got the perfect trip, but that’s because he put himself in position to have a perfect trip. No more evidence was needed than when Mike Smith showed up for the post-race news conference and there was hardly a speck of mud on his clothes.

It gets to how Justify broke alertly, Smith put him on the outside of Promises Fulfilled, and when that tank started to empty, breezed to the lead.

Lost in all this is how good Audible and Good Magic really were. They would have run down a lot of very good horses, but couldn’t get to this guy and Smith didn’t fully have him fully cranked. You can go back to the Santa Anita Derby when Bolt d’Oro, a really good horse, couldn’t gain on Justify. That may be how good Justify is.

A couple of years ago, I was among those that got caught up in the Nyquist hype. And I don’t apologize for that. He was undefeated, beat the best horse in the East (Mohaymen) in the Florida Derby and kept putting away Exaggerator. I had a hotel reservation on Long Island for the Belmont Stakes.

But, then came the Preakness, Exaggerator won and Nyquist never won another race. There was no such hype for Always Dreaming after winning last year’s Derby. But he, too, has not won another race since the Derby.

It will be interesting to see who elects to run in the Preakness and who waits to run in the Belmont five weeks later. If I’m Chad Brown, trainer of Good Magic, or Todd Pletcher, trainer of Audible who doesn’t really like to run in the Preakness, I’d wait and hope Justify is tired for the New York race.

The newsletter will be in Baltimore to bring you insights from race trackers and ramblings from me. So, stick around.

Santa Anita review

OK, call me lazy, but I’m gassed. I put up my hand and signaled to the bench. I need a pinch-hitter, or as Dave Roberts would think, just before a pitcher’s third time through the lineup, unless your name is Kershaw. And I’ve got the best back up in Eric (Manny Mota) Sondheimer. He was at Santa Anita on Saturday while I was at Churchill Downs. Eric files this report on the features. All, yours, Eric.

“Blame The Rider, a 3-year-old son of Jimmy Creed, lost his first five races. Then he tried turf and now he’s a stakes winner after taking the $100,000 Singletary Stakes at Santa Anita under jockey Mario Gutierrez. He’s two for two on grass after being 0 for 5 in dirt races.

“Blame The Rider, trained by Doug O’Neill, won by a head over favored La La Land in 1:34.65 for the mile. Blame The Rider was a $320,000 purchase last March at the 2-year-old training sale in Florida by Reddam Racing.

“ ‘This horse has always shown ability in the mornings,’ Gutierrez said. ‘I guess you could say he’s a late developer. When Doug switched him to grass last time, it helped him.’

“In the $100,000 Señorita Stakes, the 3-year-old filly Treasuring went to the lead soon after the start and went wire to wire to win by 1 1/2 lengths under jockey Brice Blanc for trainer Simon Callaghan. She covered the mile on the turf in 1:35.43. Pursuing The Dream was second.

“Treasuring was a Group III winner in Ireland as a 2-year-old.”

Santa Anita preview

There’s a really good stakes race on Santa Anita’s nine-race card on Sunday. The first post is 12:30 p.m. The seventh race, the Grade 3 Adoration Stakes, is only for $100,000 but has some high-class horses. It’s 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares 3 and up.

The 6-5 favorite is Fault, who is coming off two straight wins including the Grade 1 Santa Margarita. At 7-5 is Vale Dori, who won this race last year for her sixth win in a row, is making her comeback after being off since July. Three of the jockeys who rode in the Kentucky Derby, Flavien Prat, Mike Smith and Drayden Van Dyke are riding in this race. Hope they made their flights.

There are four turf races on the card. The field sizes are OK, but not great. In order, they are: 6, 5, 8, 8, 6, 9, 7, 8, 9.

Big Races review

A look at graded stakes or races worth more $100,000 or more on Saturday.

Churchill: Grade 1 $300,000 Humana Distaff, fillies and mares 4 and up, 7 furlongs. Winner: American Gal ($7.80)

Churchill: Grade 2 $300,000 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile, fillies and mares 4 and up, 1 mile on turf. Winner: Proctor’s Ledge ($15.60)

Churchill: Grade 2 $500,000 Churchill Downs, 4 and up, 7 furlongs. Winner: Limousine Liberal ($10.80)

Tampa Bay: $100,000 Ivanavinalot Florida Sire Stakes. Fla.-breds, fillies 3 years old, 1 mile and 40 yards. Winner: Prospective Lady ($17.40)

Belmont: Grade 2 $200,000 Sheepshead Bay Stakes, fillies and mares 4 and up, 1 3/8 miles on turf. Winner: Holy Helena ($4.80)

Churchill: Grade 2 $300,000 American Turf, 3 year olds, 1 1/16 miles on the turf. Winner: Maraud ($18.80)

Churchill: Grade 3 $300,000 Pat Day Mile, 3 year olds, 1 mile. Winner: Funny Duck ($81.40)

Tampa Bay: $100,000 Silver Charm Florida Sire Stakes, Fla.-breds, 3 year olds, 1 mile and 40 yards. Winner: Noble Drama ($9.20)

Santa Anita: $100,000 Singletary Stakes, 3 year olds, 1 mile on turf. Winner: Blame The Rider ($32.00)

Woodbine: $100,000 Woodstock Stakes, 3 year olds, 6 furlongs. Winner: Curlin’s Honor ($6.30)

Churchill: Grade 1 $500,000 Old Forester Turf Classic, 4 and up, 1 1/8 miles on turf. Winner: Yoshida ($21.80)

Belmont: Grade 3 $150,000 Fort Marcy Stakes, 4 and up, 1 1/8 miles on turf. Winner: Robert Bruce ($5.30)

Churchill: Grade 1 $2 million Kentucky Derby, 3 year olds, 1 ¼ miles. Winner: Justify ($7.80)

Belmont: Grade 3 $200,000 Westchester Stakes, 4 and up,1 mile. Winner: Tale Of Silence ($26.60)

Santa Anita: Grade 3 $100,000 Senorita Stakes, fillies 3 years old, 1 mile on turf. Winner: Treasuring ($11.80)

Big races preview

A look at graded stakes or races worth more $100,000 or more on Sunday. All times PDT:

2:18 Belmont: Grade 2 $250,000 Ruffian Handicap, fillies and mares 4 and up, 1 mile. Favorite: Unchained Melody (9-5)

3:50 Santa Anita: Grade 3 Adoration Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 1/16 miles. Favorite: Fault (6-5)

5:08 Lone Star: Grade 3 $200,000 Steve Sexton Mile, 3 and up, 1 mile. Favorite: Girvin (2-1)

Bob Ike’s SA play of the day

FOURTH RACE: No. 8 Sekmet's Revenge (4-1)

Improving filly from the Richard Baltas stable broke her maiden vs. high priced claimers going long but might fit well on the cut back in distance. She is drawn well outside, figures to get a good pace in front of her and seems to be getting better with racing.

Saturday Result: Afleet Ascent held on gamely until the late stages, then tired to fourth in a blanket finish.

Bob Ike is a Partner/VP of Horsebills.com (here’s a video) and the proprietor of BobIkePicks.com (full-card picks, 3 Best Plays and betting strategy).

Ed Burgart LA play of the day

THIRD RACE: No. 3 Bookofmatches (2-1)

This filly showed good ability in morning drills before rugged fourth-place debut when loaded with run at the wire after getting bumped off stride repeatedly about 100 yards before the finish. She galloped out with big strides in earlier 12.2 gate drill and her trainer John Cooper is winning at solid 24 percent ratio.

Final thoughts

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And now the stars of the show, Saturday’s results and Sunday’s entries.

TAMMY'S WINDOW saved ground stalking the pace, came out and bid between horses while bumping with a pair of runners in tight quarters in midstretch, gained the lead a sixteenth out and kicked clear under a right handed crack of the whip. LYNNE'S LEGACY settled off the pace inside, came out leaving the second turn and three wide into the stretch and finished well to gain the place late. PROUD 'N' READY stalked the pace inside, came out into the stretch, put a head in front three deep while drifting in a bit and bumping the winner in midstretch, fought back outside in the final furlong, could not match that one late and lost second nearing the wire. KITTY BOO (GB) had speed outside then pulled to the front three deep, angled in and set the pace inside, fought back in midstretch when bumping with the winner and was outkicked late. SUBIC BAY stalked between horses then outside a rival or off the rail, came three wide into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. ZUZANNA broke a step slowly, chased outside a rival, was between horses in upper stretch and could not summon the necessary response. WINNER'S DREAM three deep early, stalked outside a rival, went three wide on the second turn and four wide into the stretch and weakened. The stewards conducted an inquiry into the midstretch run among the first, third and fourth finishers but made no change when they ruled the contact was caused by PROUD 'N' READY and that the incident did not affect the original order of finish.

TAP THE WIRE stalked off the rail then bid four wide on the turn, took the lead leaving the turn, inched away three deep into the stretch, drifted out some from the whip while kicking clear in midstretch and proved best under steady handling late. SETTLE IT chased outside then off the rail on the turn, came four wide into the stretch, drifted in some and gained the place. CALDER VALE had good early speed and dueled inside, continued along the rail in the stretch and bested the others. LUCK'S ROYAL FLUSH dueled three wide then three deep between foes on the turn, continued three wide into the stretch and weakened. MR BINGLEY also had good early speed and dueled between horses, continued between foes into the stretch, drifted in late and also weakened. STORMY VALENTINO a bit slow into stride, chased off the rail, angled in on the turn, was outside a rival into the stretch and lacked a rally. MOVEDBYDINO broke a bit in the air and a bit slowly, saved ground chasing the pace, continued along the rail into and in the stretch then came out and split foes on the wire and also lacked a bid.

AMADA RAFAELA stalked outside then bid three deep into and on the turn, took the advantage a quarter mile out, inched away into the stretch, was shaken up with the reins to widen in midstretch and drew off under a steady hand ride. HOT AUTUMN angled in and pressed the pace outside a rival then between foes on the turn and held second. TIZ TOFFEE had good early speed and set a pressured pace inside, dueled along the rail on the turn and bested the rest. STORMING LADY stalked a bit off the rail then inside leaving the backstretch and into the turn, came out leaving the turn and three deep into the stretch and lacked a rally. PATRICIA'S RING chased just off the inside, angled in on the turn, continued toward the rail in the stretch and lacked a further response. UNTOUCHED ELEGANCE dropped back along the inside on the backstretch and turn, came out into the stretch and was not a threat. FANTASTIC GIRL chased outside then alongside a rival on the turn, came three wide into the stretch and weakened.

BLAME THE RIDER angled in and dueled outside a rival, drifted out then in a bit past midstretch, fought back in deep stretch and gamely prevailed under urging between foes late. LA LA LAND (IRE) chased between horses then a bit off the rail, came out leaving the second turn and five wide into the stretch and finished gamely four wide on the line. MOVE OVER (GB) bobbled some at the start, chased between rivals then outside a foe, came out leaving the second turn, waited off heels three deep into the stretch, spit horses in the drive, steadied off heels then angled in a sixteenth out and continued willingly inside. AFLEET ASCENT had good early speed and dueled inside, drifted out a bit in upper stretch, fought back just off the rail in the final furlong then between foes late. EAST RAND saved ground chasing the pace, came out for room leaving the second turn and three wide into the stretch, steadied off heels in midstretch then came out again and finished with interest. CHOO CHOO stalked between horses, continued between foes in the drive and lacked the needed late kick. RESTRAINEDVENGENCE hopped some at the break, stalked three deep, came four wide into the stretch and could not summon the necessary late response. MORE HONOR saved ground stalking the pace, steadied in tight into the second turn, continued inside, came under the left handed whip in midstretch then had the rider lose the stick nearing the sixteenth marker and lacked the needed late kick.

LOVE A HONEYBADGER sped to the early lead, set the pace along the inside, opened up in the stretch and held sway under urging. RED STICH hopped slightly in a slow start, settled off the rail then inside on the backstretch and into the turn, came out into the stretch and again in upper stretch and finished well to edge a rival for the place. BATIQUITOS stalked three deep then outside a rival on the turn, came three wide into the stretch, drifted in some and was edged for second between foes late. LI'L GRAZEN chased outside a rival then between foes on the turn, came three wide into the stretch, angled in past midstretch and was edged for the show. SCATHING saved ground chasing the pace, steadied off heels into the stretch, continued inside and was edged for a minor award. PASCHALITSA stalked outside then three deep on the turn and four wide into the stretch and was outfinished. MIXED EMOTIONS bobbled at the start, stalked off the rail then inside on the turn, came out into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. TWISTED ROSIE had speed between foes then stalked a bit off the rail to the stretch and weakened in the final furlong.

FAHAN MURA pulled a bit off the rail on a loose rein to the early lead, angled in and set the pace inside, responded when rivals loomed on the second turn, kicked away again under urging in the stretch and proved best. THE TULIP (IRE) settled inside then a bit off the rail, steadied in tight off heels into the second turn, angled back in, continued along thee rail in the stretch and gained the place. FIZZY FRIDAY (GB) angled in and chased outside a rival, came three deep into the stretch and held third between foes. SPIN ME A KISS between foes early, angled in and saved ground chasing the pace ,came out leaving the second turn and three wide into the stretch and was edged for the show. HACHI (CHI) angled in and saved ground stalking the pace, inched forward inside on the second turn, came out into the stretch, was between horses in midstretch and was outfinished for a minor award. FUERZA chased outside a rival then three deep on the backstretch and second turn, came four wide into the stretch and lacked a further response. DOMESTIC VINTAGE chased inside then between horses on the backstretch and a bit off the rail on the second turn, continued toward the inside in the stretch and weakened.

TREASURING (GB) dueled between horses then inside on the backstretch, inched away on the second turn, kicked clear and held gamely under urging. PURSUING THE DREAM (IRE) bumped between foes at the start, dueled between horses then outside the winner, stalked leaving the second turn, continued outside a rival in the stretch and held second between foes late. MOVIE MOMENT bumped at the break, angled in and chased outside a rival, came three deep into the stretch and was edged for second three wide on the line. CONSOLIDA (GB) broke out and bumped a rival, chased outside a foe then a bit off the rail, continued inside on the second turn, came out into the stretch, split horses in deep stretch and was edged for a minor award. WEST PALM BEACH (IRE) settled off the pace inside, came out on the second turn, went three deep past the quarter pole and four wide into the stretch and found her best stride late. MAY GIRL (GB) had speed inside to duel for the lead then stalked along the rail, continued inside in the stretch and weakened late. EXUBERANCE chased inside then outside a rival on the second turn, came out into the stretch and lacked a rally. HAND TIMED.

QUAD had speed three deep then inched away and angled in, set the pace inside, kicked clear on the turn and held under left handed urging. NORTH COUNTY GUY a bit slow to begin, stalked between horses then a bit off the rail on the turn and into the stretch and was clearly second best. MOON JUICE chased off the rail, went up three deep on the turn, angled in off the rail into the stretch and just held third. MACH SPEED saved ground chasing the pace, split rivals on the turn, steadied off heels leaving the turn, found the rail into the stretch, came out some in the drive and was edged for the show. CALIMONCO FLYER stalked between horses then outside a rival into the turn, angled to the inside on the turn and weakened. ANGRY BOBBY chased outside on the backstretch and turn, came three wide into the stretch and did not rally. UNUSUAL CHAMP pulled early and steadied off heels midway on the backstretch, chased off the inside, came out into the stretch and lacked a rally. SEATTLE ENCOUNTER bobbled a step out of the gate, stalked four wide then outside a rival into the turn, angled in some leaving the bend and weakened. THE TATTOO KID had speed a bit off the rail then stalked inside, dropped back on the turn and gave way.

SIGUR ROS had good early speed off the rail, dueled off the inside then outside a rival leaving the hill, inched away into the stretch and held on gamely under urging. OISEAU DE GUERRE stalked four wide then fell back outside a rival leaving the hill, came out into the stretch and again in midstretch and finished with a rush late. SO CONFLATED between horses early, stalked a bit off the rail then inside, came between rivals into the stretch, split foes in midstretch and continued willingly inside. FORTUNE OF WAR (GB) chased outside then alongside a rival, angled in leaving the hill, continued along the inside into and through the stretch and bested the others. VENDING MACHINE pulled and stalked between horses then a bit off the rail, continued outside a rival leaving the hill and three deep into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. MAKE IT A TRIPLE stalked inside then bid along the rail to duel for the lead leaving the hill, came a bit off the rail in the stretch, steadied in a bit tight off heels nearing the sixteenth pole and weakened. INCENSED pressed the pace outside the winner then stalked three deep, came five wide into the stretch and also weakened. BUCKYS PICK a bit slow to begin, settled off the rail then inside on the hill, came out into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. CONQUEST SUPERSTAR hopped some at the start, pulled between horses chasing the pace, continued outside leaving the hill and four wide into the stretch and had little left for the drive. Rail on hill at zero.

ZAP AGAIN stalked five wide between foes then outside into the turn, bid three deep leaving the turn, led into the stretch, inched away under urging past midstretch and proved best. GLORIOUS CROWN squeezed at the start, dueled between horses then inside on the turn, came off the rail in the stretch and bested the others. ISEE IT IN HISEYES dueled three deep then outside the runner-up on the turn and between foes leaving the turn and into the stretch, drifted to the inside in the drive and held third. GATOR DON'T PLAY broke out and bumped a rival, settled off the rail then inside, came out leaving the turn and three deep into the stretch and improved position. KALEIDOSCOPE KID chased between horses then outside a rival into the turn, split horses on the bend and lacked the needed rally. MAC MCLOVIN went up inside to duel for the lead, dropped back on the turn and weakened. DOMINANT DON stalked six wide then five wide into the turn, continued outside then four wide into the stretch and also weakened. UPPERCLASSMAN stalked off the rail, dropped back on the turn and gave way.

KINEMATICO sped to the early lead, angled in and set the pace inside on a clear lead and proved best under left handed urging. CAMPS BAY dropped back off the rail then angled in on the hill, split horses into the stretch, went inside in the final furlong to edge a rival for the place. CONQUEST SMARTEE stalked between horses then off the rail, went between foes again leaving the hill and three wide into the stretch and was edged for second. HARLISS stalked off the rail then outside a rival, continued off the inside leaving the hill, came out into the stretch and weakened. BRAG DUDE was in a good position stalking the pace three deep between foes then three wide leaving the hill and into the stretch and lacked a further response. WHEN JESUS WALKED broke slowly, settled off the rail, angled in on the hill, came out into the stretch and failed to menace. BOB'S BAD BOY turned his head, hopped and was away well behind the field, settled a bit off the rail then inside and was not a threat. ST. SIMEON stalked four wide, drifted eight wide into the stretch and gave way. WAR LINK saved ground stalking the pace, dropped back in the stretch and also gave way. The stewards conducted an inquiry into the start before ruling BOB'S BAD BOY was the cause of his own trouble. Rail on hill at zero.