Racing! Very big day of racing at Saratoga

Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as we get another handicapping lesson from Rob Henie.

Big, big day at Saratoga with seven graded stakes and six of them Grade 1. I would have been there but you-know-who was retired when it became clear he couldn’t get ready for the biggest post-Triple Crown race for 3-year-olds.

Just for fun, let’s run down the horses running in the $1.25-million Travers Stakes that ran in Triple Crown races. (And one other.)

--Wonder Gadot (5-1) is a filly who won the first two legs of the Canadian Triple Crown beating males.

--Gronkowski (4-1) missed the Derby but may have run the best race after early trouble in the Belmont, finishing second.

--Bravazo (12-1) was sixth in the Kentucky Derby, second in the Preakness (the closest anyone came to beating Justify) and sixth in the Belmont.

--Vino Rosso (10-1) was ninth in Kentucky and fourth in the Belmont.

--Mendelssohn (12-1) finished last in the Kentucky Derby. If he had won, he wouldn’t have run in the Preakness.

--Good Magic (2-1) was second in the Kentucky Derby and fourth in the Preakness. He’s the favorite.

--Tenfold (8-1) was third in the Preakness and fifth in the Belmont.

The races, among others will be on the NBC Lite (NBCSN) network from 4-6 p.m.

Weekly handicapping lesson

Here’s our weekly contribution from Rob Henie of the WCHR (West Coast Handicapping Report) and the ECHR (East Coast Handicapping Report). The thinking is if you can know and understand the strategies, it will make you a better handicapper.

Today’s lesson is from the 10^th race at Del Mar. It’s all yours, Rob.

“The final race of the day is a maiden special weight at a flat mile on the turf. One of the important aspects of handicapping maidens, and first timers in particular, is determining who’s well meant. One key to this is understanding which trainers like to fire first time out, which don’t, and then, using that knowledge to look at the placement. That’s what we’ll do with our top pick, CUPID’S CLAW (#3). As we look for yet another WCHR debut winner, Brian Koriner likes to give his runners the race before asking for a bit more second time out. With that in mind, we can look at this runner today pretty favorably, as Brian not only debuts at the MSW level, a good sign, but also sends long on the turf right off the bat. Often times he’ll give the race coming down the hill at Santa Anita, which accounts for his lackluster “turf” record with debut runners, but those shorter races are simply preps for longer. The fact he’s going long right off the bat, is a strong sign. He’s been using Tiago Pereira quite a bit in recent months, thus we like the fact he’s riding. One other note, Brian is a former quarter-horse trainer, which is why speed is his forte, so the fact this one’s been working very quickly, yet, still sends long on the turf, there’s just every reason to believe this one is very well meant today. PALADAR (#4) is very similar. Away for a year, Carla Gaines not only returns going long, on the turf, but she even gains the services of Drayden Van Dyke, and, adds blinkers, a very good sign of a well meant effort on the way. We’ll see everyone on Sunday.

“Hot / Cold Race Trends: none

“WCHR Maiden Power Rating: - 1.00 (slightly below average)

“Win Contenders (order of preference): 3-4

“X Out Runners (eliminating on the win end): 1,2

“Positive Notes:

“6 Noivo - Stevens and Blacker teamed to provide us with top pick Double Touch a few weeks back, and we’ll respect the combination here off the layoff.

“TOP PICK: CUPID’S CLAW (#3 8-1 Pereira) Debut $ Win Wager

“SECOND CHOICE: PALADAR (#4 5-1 Van Dyke) $ Win Wager”

^{The West Coast Handicapping Report can be found at https://www.westcoasthorseracing.com It has been endorsed by leading trainers, handicappers and industry sources.}

Inside body language

I just found this interesting and maybe you will too. Greg Lawlor will be the guest with Jon Lies on his handicapping segment at Del Mar on Saturday at 1 p.m. Lawlor is a champion of handicapping by body language and is affiliated with the Body Language Training Academy. He’s going to offer a free webinar on the subject on the show and one of the language experts will offer free selections for Sunday for those who watch the webinar. All horses will be graded A, B or C.

Del Mar review

Friday’s feature was the $75,000 Tranquility Lakes Stakes for fillies and mares going a mile. The race lost some luster when favorite Way to Versailles, along with Munny Spunt, scratched leaving a five-horse field.

Shenandoah Queen, for the red-hot Hronis Racing group, did not waver in the stretch with plenty left and won by 8 1/2 lengths over Vale Dori. Turkish Tabby finished third.

Shenandoah Queen paid $11.00, $3.40 and $2.80 for trainer John Sadler and jockey Tyler Baze.

Del Mar preview

It’s not Saratoga good, and it’s likely not as good as we thought it would be, but there are some good horses running. There are two stakes races, but both may have small fields. First post for the 10-race card is 2 p.m.

The big race is the Grade 2 $200,000 Pat O’Brien Stakes for sprinters going seven furlongs. It started with a stellar cast of Catalina Cruiser, Roy H, Ransom the Moon and Battle of Midway, but Roy H and Ransom the Moon will likely not start.

“Ransom the Moon is not going to run,” trainer Phil D’Amato told Hank Wesch of Del Mar. “We’re going to look at either the Santa Anita Sprint Championship [on Oct. 6] or the DeFrancis Dash [at Laurel Park]. I really just want to run him in one [Breeders’ Cup] prep. If I run him now, it’s sitting on him for 10 weeks before the Breeders’ Cup and that’s a long time for a horse.”

Peter Miller was thinking the same thing for Roy H.

“The horse is doing fine,” Miller told Wesch. “I think he’d win the race. But winning this race is not the end game. If it’s going to cost me winning the Breeders’ Cup, that’s not a good trade off. So, I think we’re going to be prudent.”

That leaves Catalina Cruiser as the prohibitive favorite. He’s listed as 8-5 but he’ll be less than even money. He is undefeated in three starts, including a win in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap. He’s trained by John Sadler and ridden by Drayden Van Dyke. Post time is around 5:05 p.m. with a likely six-horse field.

The first stakes is the third race, the $100,000 Shared Belief for 3-year-olds going one mile. Tatters to Riches is the 2-1 favorite. He has won two of three races but was off the track for a long time after finishing sixth in last year’s Del Mar Futurity to Bolt d’Oro. He runs for trainer Jeff Mullins and will be ridden by Tyler Baze.

Cool Bobby is the second favorite at 5-2. It’s his fourth race and he is coming off a fourth-place finish in the Iowa Derby. He’s trained by Peter Eurton and ridden by Mario Gutierrez. Post time is around 3:05 p.m. for the five-horse field.

The field size, in order, is: 6, 7, 5, 8, 12 (1 also eligible), 7, 8, 10 (2 AE), 9, 10.

Big races preview

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

11:23 Saratoga (6): Grade 1 $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial, 3-year-olds, 7 furlongs. Favorite: Promises Fulfilled (8-5)

11:59 Saratoga (7): Grade 1 $700,000 Personal Ensign, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 1/8 miles. Favorite: Abel Tasman (6-5)

12:35 Saratoga (8): Grade 1 $500,000 Ballerina Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 7 furlongs. Favorite: Marley’s Freedom (5-2)

12:43 Parx (7): $100,000 Salvatore M. DeBunda PTHA President’s Cup, 3 and up 1 1/8 miles on turf. Favorite: Page McKenney (2-1)

12:50 Woodbine (6): $100,000 Catch a Glimpse Stakes, fillies 2-years-old, 6 furlongs on turf. Favorite: Si Si Tequila (5-2)

1:12 Saratoga (9): Grade 1 $600,000 Forego Stakes, 3 and up, 7 furlongs. Favorite: City of Light (9-5)

1:18 Parx (8): Grade 3 $300,000 Smarty Jones Stakes, 1 1/16 miles. Favorite: Flameaway (2-1)

1:49 Saratoga (10): Grade 1 $1 million Sword Dancer, 3 and up, 1 ½ miles on turf. Favorite: Sadler’s Joy (7-2)

2:00 Woodbine (8): Grade 2 $175,000 Play the King Stakes, 3 and up, 7 furlongs on the turf. Favorite: Mr Havercamp (2-1)

2:44 Saratoga (11): Grade 1 $1.25 million Travers Stakes, 3-year-olds, 1 ¼ miles. Favorite: Good Magic (2-1)

3:00 Del Mar (3): $100,000 Shared Belief Stakes, 3-year-olds, 1 mile. Favorite: Tatters to Riches (2-1)

3:03 Gulfstream (11): $100,000 Benny the Bull Stakes, Fla-breds 3 and up, 7 furlongs. Favorite: Mo Cash (5-2)

3:20 Saratoga (12): Grade 2 $400,000 Ballston Spa Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 1/16 miles on turf. Favorite: A Raving Beauty (7-5)

5:00 Del Mar (7): Grade 2 $200,000 Pat O’Brien Stakes, 3 and up, 7 furlongs. Favorite: Catalina Cruiser (8-5)

5:38 Canterbury (4): $100,000 Canterbury Turf Express Stakes, 3 and up, 5 furlongs on turf. Favorite: Jockomo’s Song (2-1)

5:55 Northlands (12): Grade 3 $150,000 Canadian Derby, 3-year-olds, 1 3/8 miles. Favorite: Sky Promise (2-1)

Bob Ike’s DMR pick of the day

SIXTH RACE: Exacta Box 1-2

Two horses that come off wins over a turf course they obviously like in #1 Conquest Typhoon and #2 Terrys Tom Cat in this $50,000 claimer going 1 1/16 miles on grass. Both are sharp, should get ground-saving trips and might be catching a couple others going the other way. They both figure to run well right back.

Friday’s result: Vallestina had a slow start but coudn’t rally enough to be a factor, finishing a lackluster seventh.

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’s LA play of the day

SIXTH RACE: No. 6 CC Senor Perry (2-1)

He is back at the distance where he scored a rapid one-length maiden victory two outs ago. Gelding was loaded with run past the wire in last neck loss when fourth at 100 yards after a sluggish start. He now draws the comfortable outside post and new rider Cesar Franco has been winning with regularity over the past few weeks.

Final thought

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

DON'TEATMYCOOKIES broke out a bit, sped to the early lead, angled in and set all the pace a bit off the rail and held on gamely under left handed urging. LONDON HOTEL a bit slow to begin, saved ground chasing the pace throughout and finished with interest inside. ONE UPPER stalked inside then a bit off the rail, came out into the stretch and continued on well late. WAZE READY settled off the rail, entered the stretch outside a rival, came out in the drive and was edged for the show. TAKE CHARGE GAL chased off the rail, came three wide into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. SOLARIUM hopped in the air then swerved inward in a slow start, settled a bit off the rail, angled in on the turn, continued inside in the stretch and was not a threat. D D'S LUTE bobbled at the start, chased a bit off the rail, angled in leaving the turn, came a bit off the fence in the stretch and lacked a further response.

PAINTING CORNERS dueled four wide between foes then stalked early on the turn, re-bid three deep leaving the turn, came out into the stretch and gained the lead, inched away under urging and held gamely. SWIRLING broke a bit slowly, settled inside, moved up along the rail on the turn, came out into the stretch and again in midstretch and finished well. SPIN ME A KISS dueled between horses then was in tight into the turn, angled to the inside, continued along the rail in the stretch and was edged for the place. SNOW CLOUD (IRE) broke a bit slowly, settled inside, came out leaving the turn and four wide into the stretch and found her best stride late. TIME FOR EBBY chased a bit off the rail then outside a rival on the turn, steadied off heels leaving the turn, continued off the inside in the stretch and lacked the needed rally. OKINAWA had good early speed and dueled inside, fought back on the turn, came a bit off the rail into the stretch and weakened in the final furlong. KENTAN ROAD dueled between horses then outside a rival early on the turn, battled between foes leaving the turn and into the stretch and also weakened in the final furlong. SHANGHAI TARIFF pressed the pace five wide on the backstretch, fell back and angled in outside a rival on the turn, came out into the stretch and also weakened.

CARAY sped to the early lead off the rail, angled in and set a pressured pace inside, came a bit off the fence into the stretch and held on gamely under left handed urging. KERSHAW a step slow to begin, pressed the pace between foes, battled outside the winner through the drive and continued willingly but was outgamed. BLAME JOE saved ground stalking the pace throughout and edged a rival for the show. CAPTIVATE stalked three deep then outside a rival on the backstretch and turn, continued alongside that one in the stretch and was edged for third. GOODWILLAMBASSADOR pressed the pace three deep, was fanned out some into the stretch and was outfinished. POCKET PERSONALITY chased between horses then a bit off the rail, angled to the inside nearing the turn, came out a bit into the stretch and lacked a rally.

DUKE OF FALLBROOK chased off the rail, came out five wide into the stretch, rallied under urging to gain the lead three wide in deep stretch and won clear. KOPITAR dueled outside a rival, had that one slip away a furlong out, re-bid between horses in deep stretch and bested the others. BUCK DUANE tossed his head but broke with the field, had speed between horses then dueled a bit off the rail, inched away in midstretch, fought back in deep stretch and clearly held third. GOTNOQUIT stalked between horses on the backstretch and turn and into the stretch and lacked a further response. POISE TO STRIKE close up stalking the pace five wide then four wide on the turn and into the stretch and weakened. TURNAROUND stalked three deep between horses on the backstretch and turn and also weakened. LUKER was in a good position tracking the leaders along the inside, saved ground on the turn and into the stretch and also weakened in the drive. AWESOME E K stalked four wide between foes, was in a bit tight into the turn, continued off the rail, drifted inward in the stretch and had little left for the drive. JUNE SIXTH broke out and steadied in a slow start, settled off the rail to the stretch and gave way.

SALIENT sped to the early lead, set the pace along the inside to the stretch, drifted out despite right handed pressured in the drive and held on gamely. HITTERS PARK stalked outside a rival, came out in upper stretch, also drifted out some in the final furlong then went on gamely late. CASTLE broke through the gate before the start, stalked between horses t hen off the rail on the turn, split horses into the stretch, came out in the drive, came in a bit and steadied off heels in deep stretch but finished well. MY MAN CHUCKLES broke a bit slowly, settled just off the rail, came out into the stretch and again in upper stretch and found his best stride late while widest. PURIANO saved ground stalking the pace, continued inside in the stretch and was outfinished. FOREST CHATTER chased outside a rival, came three wide into the stretch and could not quite summon the necessary late kick. INCENSED broke slowly, settled inside chasing the pace, came out into the stretch and also lacked the needed rally. OUR INDEPENDENCE stalked outside then off the rail on the turn, came three wide into the stretch and lacked the necessary response. A claim of foul by the rider of CASTLE against the winner for alleged interference in deep stretch was not allowed by the stewards, who ruled the former contributed to his own trouble. HAND TIMED.

SPICED PERFECTION stalked outside then three deep on the backstretch and turn, came out into the stretch, rallied under urging to the front a sixteenth out and won clear. LOVE A HONEYBADGER had speed between horses then dueled inside, inched away on the turn, came a bit off the rail in the stretch, could not hold off the winner but clearly bested the others. DANUSKA'S MY GIRL dueled outside the runner-up then stalked on the turn, found the inside in the stretch and edged rivals for the show. FAMILY GIRL chased outside, came four wide into the stretch and was edged for third. TYFOSHA stalked between horses, came out into the stretch and lost third late. JEST A PRINCESS saved ground stalking the pace, continued inside in the stretch and lacked a rally. VALLESTINA bobbled in a bit of a slow start, settled outside a rival then a bit off the rail to the stretch and could not offer the necessary response. SMILING TIGRESS dropped back off the rail, continued outside a rival on the turn, came out into the stretch and did not rally. LATE 'N LEFT bobbled a bit at the break, saved ground off the pace, came out into the stretch and gave way.

SHENANDOAH QUEEN dueled outside a rival, took the lead leaving the second turn, inched away into the stretch then drew off under urging and a hold late. VALE DORI (ARG) threw her head as the gates opened and was away behind the field, went up three deep into the first turn then stalked outside a rival, came three wide into the stretch and got up for the place late while four wide on the line. TURKISH TABBY stalked just off the rail to the stretch, came out some in the drive and held third between foes late. TIZWAY THAT WAY settled off the pace inside, saved ground throughout and was edged for the show along the rail. MENDED had good early speed and dueled inside, fought back leaving the second turn, drifted out in the stretch and weakened but was edged for a minor share between foes late.

TEMPLE PRINCESS settled inside, went outside a rival on the second turn, swung five wide into the stretch, rallied under urging to the front in deep stretch and proved best. TURING MACHINE stalked the pace inside, awaited room leaving the second turn then got through inside to gain the lead in upper stretch, inched away nearing midstretch, could not hold off the winner but bested the others. TROPHY BRIDLE chased between horses then inside on the second turn, continued along the rail in the stretch and edged a rival for the show. CHALKY (IRE) stalked three deep, came four wide into the stretch, drifted in a bit and was edged for third. VENUE chased three deep then outside a rival on the second turn, came out four wide into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. INTO GLAMOUR hopped some in a bit of a slow start, chased between horses, was shuffled back between foes on the second turn and in a bit close off heels a quarter mile out, came three wide into the stretch, waited off heels approaching midstretch then got through between foes but could not offer the necessary late kick. HEAVEN ESCAPE four wide early, stalked three deep then outside a rival, came three wide into the stretch, drifted inward in the drive and weakened. MY MIDNIGHT AFFAIR angled in and stalked a bit off the rail, dropped back between horses on the second turn, drifted to the inside in the stretch and also weakened. SUDDEN LIGHT saved ground off the pace, came out leaving the second turn and four wide into the stretch and did not rally. ROSES AND CANDY sped to the early lead, set the pace inside, came out into the stretch and between foes in upper stretch and weakened through the drive while eased up late.