Racing! Saying goodbye to Justify

Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as we look at what got us to this point.

The Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga and the Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar are the two big races on Saturday. The but the biggest event will not be a race but undefeated Triple Crown winner Justify doing a ceremonial walk through Del Mar’s paddock and onto the main track. It’ll be about 3:45 p.m., after the fourth race.

In commemorating that moment, I caught up with trainer Bob Baffert and Elliott Walden, managing partner of the ownership group. They were the two who ultimately made the decision to retire Justify. You can read the story here.

Justify wasn’t retired so much because of the swelling in his left front ankle but because after a layoff there wouldn’t be enough time to get him ready to race at a high level later this year.

Baffert thought Justify might have injured his ankle in the 1 ½ mile Belmont Stakes but he’s not sure. It could also have happened when he returned to Santa Anita.

The original plan was to run him in the Haskell, which is this Sunday at Monmouth, and possibly the Travers Stakes on Aug. 25 at Saratoga. The eventual goal was the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 2. Walden said he was never going to run as a 4-year-old.

Anyway, it should be a big crowd at Del Mar on Saturday to say goodbye to the 13^th winner of the Triple Crown.

Del Mar review

The feature on Friday was $150,000 Real Good Deal Stakes for 3-year-old Cal-breds going seven furlongs. It was horse we’ve made fun of before because I can’t think of worse advice (unless it’s take the Four O Five). Take the One O One took advantage of the HOV lanes (otherwise known as the rail) to pull out a ½-length win over Daddy Sprize. Shaymin was third.

Take the One O One paid $4.20, $2.80 and $2.20 for trainer Brian Koriner and jockey Joe Talamo.

Del Mar preview

Pretty decent 10-race card including a Grade 1 stakes race and a Cal-bred stakes. First post is 2 p.m. The $300,000 Bing Crosby Stakes, a six furlong sprint, is the featured race of the day. The winner of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, Roy H, along with the fourth- and fifth-place finishers are back over the same Del Mar surface. Post time will be about 6 p.m.

Roy H, at 2-1, in the favorite for trainer Peter Miller. Defending Crosby champion Ransom the Moon, who finished fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint is 6-1. American Pastime, who finished fourth in the Sprint, is 15-1.

“It’s almost a mini Breeders’ Cup Sprint,” American Pastime trainer Bob Hess, Jr., told Hank Wesch of Del Mar. “Just a super deep field. I think anyone could win although Roy H is the obvious favorite.”

Also, in the field is American Anthem, the second favorite at 5-2.

This will be Roy H’s first race back since finishing third in the Dubai Golden Shaheen in March. Previously he won six of seven races, the only blemish being a second in last year’s Crosby.

The other stakes is the $150,000 California Dreamin’ Stakes for older Cal-breds going 1 1/16 miles on the turf. Pee Wee Reese is the 7-2 favorite, having won six of his last eight races. He is six of 11 lifetime and two of four at Del Mar. Ashleyluvssugar, a 7-year-old gelding, is running his 27^th lifetime race, is the second favorite at 9-2.

But he’s not the oldest horse in the race.

Ten-year-old Soi Phet will be running his 60^th lifetime race. He’s on a bit of a hot streak having won his last two upping his total to 15 wins. He’s at 12-1 but sentimentality may drive him lower.

The field sizes are good. They are, in order: 7, 10 (3 also eligible), 6, 9, 12, 10, 11 (1 AE), 12, 11, 12 (2 AE).

Big races preview

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

12:05 Woodbine: Grade 1 $100,000 King Corrie Stakes, 3-year-olds, 6 furlongs. Favorite: Wyatt’s Town (2-1)

1:25 Saratoga: Grade 3 $200,000 Amsterdam Stakes, 3-year-olds, 6 ½ furlongs. Favorite: Engage (8-5)

1:47 Woodbine: $100,000 Toronto Cup Stakes, 3-year-olds, 1 1/8 miles on turf. Favorite: O’Kratos (2-1)

2:02 Saratoga: Grade 1 $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap, 3 and up, 6 furlongs. Favorite: Imperial Hint (6-5)

2:40 Saratoga: Grade 2 $250,000 Bowling Green Stakes, 4 and up, 1 3/8 miles on turf. Favorite: Money Multiplier (2-1)

3:54 Saratoga: Grade 2 $600,000 Jim Dandy Stakes, 3-year-olds, 1 1/8 miles. Favorite: Vino Rosso (1-1)

5:00 Del Mar: $150,000 California Dreamin’ Stakes, Cal-breds 3 and up, 1 1/16 miles on turf. Favorite: Pee Wee Reese (7-2)

6:00 Del Mar: Grade 1 $300,000 Bing Crosby Stakes, 3 and up, 6 furlongs. Favorite: Roy H (2-1)

Bob Ike’s DMR pick of the day

SEVENTH RACE: No. 7 Fly to Mars (5-1)

This is an outstanding betting race with a full field of state-breds going in the California Dreamin' Stakes. I love the chances of Fly to Mars, who toyed with second-level allowance horses last time after blinkers were removed. He showed he can handle two turns and should fall into a great spot for top connections.

Friday’s result: Push Through (3-1) fired a big shot off the bench but couldn't get to the winner, settling for second while many lengths in front of the third horse.

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

NINTH RACE: No. 5 Chicks Fayvorite (4-1)

This 5-year-old gelding ran second in this California Breeders Sprint Stakes last year and is only making his third start since January. He went nicely from the rail in last third-place try and was fourth in prior outing after 18-week layoff when competing vs. winner Katella Deli, who ran second in last year’s Los Alamitos Super Derby. Lotta Blues Man, the 5-2 morning-line favorite and winner of the 2016 Golden State Million, disappointed with clean trip in last fourth-place try.

Final thought

Always looking to add more subscribers to this newsletter. Can’t beat the price. If you like it, tell someone. If you don’t like it, then you’re probably not reading this. Either way, send to a friend and just have them click here and sign up. Remember, it’s free, and all we need is your email, nothing more.

Any thoughts, don’t hit reply as I won’t see that email, instead you can reach me at johnacherwa@gmail.com. You can also feed my ego by following me on Twitter @jcherwa

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

ROYAL ASSCHER went up inside to press the pace, took a short lead on the turn, inched away and came out into the stretch, kicked clear under urging then steady handling late. GEMINI JOURNEY forced the pace four wide between horses then angled in and stalked inside on the turn, came out into the stretch and in upper stretch and bested the others. DEVIL'S BEAUTY dueled between horses then three deep on the turn, was fanned four wide into the stretch and outfinished a rival for the show. MYRCELLA a half step slow into stride, prompted the pace five wide, stalked outside on the turn, had the rider lose the whip a quarter mile out, came five wide into the stretch and was outfinished for a minor share. ZUZANNA angled in and saved ground chasing the pace, came out in midstretch and improved position. MAGICALCHIC saved ground stalking the pace on the backstretch and turn, continued inside in the stretch and did not rally. KRISTIE'S HEART chased outside then off the rail, came three wide into the stretch, steadied at the spill in upper stretch and lacked a rally. PEAKED settled outside a rival, split horses into the stretch and lacked a further response. BACK BEAUTY dueled inside rivals but a bit off the rail then between foes on the turn, lugged out leaving the turn and into the stretch, clipped heels when in very tight in upper stretch and fell but was walked off. The stewards conducted an inquiry into the spill in upper stretch before ruling no other runners were the cause of the trouble to BACK BEAUTY.

LEMOONA stalked the pace inside, bid along the rail to gain the lead into the second turn, kicked clear on that turn and proved best under urging. ROOMS five wide into the first turn, angled in and stalked outside a rival, split horses leaving the backstretch, moved up inside on the second turn, came out into the stretch and was clearly second best. STARR OF QUALITY saved ground chasing the pace, came out leaving the second turn and into the stretch and edged a rival for third. LIGHTNING DOVE four wide into the first turn, stalked outside a rival then three deep leaving the backstretch, went up four wide leaving the second turn and five wide into the stretch and was edged for the show. JEST A PRINCESS angled in and dueled a bit off the rail then between foes into the second turn, stalked off the inside on that turn, came out into the stretch and weakened. DEMIGODDESS saved ground chasing the pace throughout and did not rally. OF NOTE angled in and pressed the pace outside a rival then three deep into the second turn, stalked outside on that turn, was fanned four wide into the stretch and weakened. SAPPHIRE KID three deep into the first turn, settled outside a rival then off the rail on the backstretch, continued alongside a foe leaving the second turn and lacked a further response.

THERMOPOLIS saved ground stalking the pace, steadied in tight along the rail into, midway and leaving the second turn, got through inside in the stretch to gain the lead and gamely prevailed under urging. PUSH THROUGH four wide on the first turn, angled in and chased inside then a bit off the rail, came three deep into the stretch, bid outside in the drive then alongside the winner and continued willingly. THE HUNTED sped to the early lead and angled in, set the pace inside then dueled along the rail, was between horses in upper stretch and held third. WRIT LARGE angled in and stalked outside a rival, bid alongside the pacesetter on the backstretch and second turn, was between foes in upper stretch and edged for the show. CAPTAIN BUZZKILL stalked the pace three deep then off the rail into the stretch and weakened. CLEM DELA CLEM settled inside, came out into the stretch and did not rally. CELTURIAN pulled along the inside and was in tight into the first turn, saved ground stalking the pace, came out into the stretch and weakened. CHIEFTAIN'S LAD settled inside then outside a rival leaving the backstretch and on the second turn, came out some in the stretch and did not rally. ACCLIMATE broke slowly, angled in and settled outside a rival chasing the pace, came three deep into the stretch and weakened. BIG BARREL stalked between horses, dropped back and angled in on the second turn and also weakened.

NAUGHTY SOPHIE dueled a bit off the rail then between horses, inched away leaving the turn, found the rail into the stretch and drew off under a brisk hand ride while being shown the whip. TWISTED ROSIE broke a bit slowly, settled inside, split horses into the stretch and gained the place. CROWN KITTEN a step slow to begin, fell back between horses then chased a bit off the rail, came out on the turn and five wide into the stretch and picked up the show. PALACE PAYNTER dueled outside the winner then three deep into and on the turn, continued off the rail into the stretch and weakened. PRINCESS ARENI chased outside a rival then off the rail, came four wide into the stretch and lacked a rally. AVAIL settled outside a rival then three deep into and on the turn, came five wide into the stretch and also lacked the necessary response. MIS VIOLA stalked outside then three deep, continued off the rail on the turn and weakened. MISS PRETTY was in a good position stalking the pace between foes then a bit off the rail, angled to the inside on the turn and also weakened. COMPLETE DISCREET went up inside to press the pace on the backstretch and turn and weakened in the drive.

COMES THE DREAM broke a bit slowly, settled inside, went outside a rival on the second turn, split horses in upper stretch, rallied under some urging to gain thee lead outside the pacesetter in deep stretch and proved best. DEFIANTLY stalked between horses, came three wide into the stretch and got up for the place. MR. OPPORTUNIST had speed between horses then set the pace off the rail, angled in and dueled inside, inched clear in the stretch, could not hold off the winner in deep stretch and was edged for second. BUCKYS PICK five wide leaving the chute, stalked outside then bid three deep to vie for command, continued three wide into the stretch and was outfinished for a minor share. MONYDONTSPENITSELF six wide leaving the chute, stalked four wide to the stretch and lacked a rally. MONTU pulled between horses then stalked off the rail, bid between rivals to duel for the lead to the stretch and weakened in the final furlong. OVER PAR saved ground chasing the pace, waited a bit into the stretch, came out some in the drive and lacked the needed rally, then did not return to be unsaddled and was vanned off. IT'S THE ICE (GB) stalked the pace three deep between horses to the stretch and weakened. BRONZINO (FR) close up stalking the pace along the inside to the stretch, also weakened.

TAKE THE ONE O ONE stalked inside, bid along the rail into the turn, took the lead leaving the turn, inched away under urging in the stretch and held gamely. DADDYSPRIZE dueled outside a rival then three deep into and on the turn, continued three wide into the stretch and was coming back at the winner late. SHAYMIN angled in and saved ground chasing the pace throughout and gained the show. FASHIONABLY FAST saved ground stalking the pace, pulled his way up along the rail leaving the backstretch, came out into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. SMILING ANGELO had good early speed and dueled a bit off the rail on the backstretch and between foes into and on the turn, continued just off the fence in the stretch and weakened late. ISEE IT IN HISEYES settled off the rail on the backstretch and turn, came a bit wide into the stretch and lacked a further response. VIOLENT RIDGE bobbled some at the break, chased outside a rival, came three wide into the stretch and weakened.

MISS BOOM BOOM four wide leaving the chute, chased outside a rival then three deep on the backstretch and second turn and into the stretch, bid three deep under urging past the eighth pole, gained the lead a sixteenth out and gamely prevailed. TWIRLING APPLES stalked outside a rival to the stretch, bid between horses past midstretch and continued willingly. WARM ENDOWMENT chased a bit off the rail then inside, went between horses on the backstretch and second turn and into the stretch and rallied for the show. SUBIC BAY broke a bit slowly and was squeezed some, pulled a bit off the rail then chased inside, came out into the stretch and was outfinished. PLASTERED stalked just off the rail then inside to the stretch and lacked the needed rally. AWARD IT broke a bit slowly, was in a bit tight leaving the chute, saved ground off the pace, split horses in the stretch and could not offer the necessary response. GONE TO BALI sped to the early lead, kicked clear, opened up on the first turn and backstretch and weakened in the final sixteenth. HIP NINETY THREE four wide early, angled in and chased outside a rival to the stretch and lacked a rally. YOU'RE A GOAT (GB) angled in and saved ground chasing the pace to the stretch and lacked the necessary response.

INDIAN GULCH saved ground stalking the pace, came out leaving the second turn and into the stretch, bid outside the runner-up under urging past midstretch to gain the lead late and proved best. CHANNEL CROSSING ducked in at the start, angled in and dueled outside a rival then inched away on the backstretch, set the pace a bit off the rail then inside on the second turn and into the stretch, fought back inside the winner in deep stretch and held second. ALFAREED stalked the pace between horses then off the rail leaving the second turn, came out into the stretch and was edged for the place. VEGAS ITCH broke out some, was between horses early, chased off the rail, came four wide into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. ROYAL REBEL settled inside then a bit off the rail, went outside a rival on the second turn, angled inward in thee stretch and could not offer the necessary response. GAME OF ROANS broke slowly and was squeezed some, settled off the rail then outside a rival, came three wide into the stretch and did not rally. FRONT ROW FRIENDS four wide into the first turn, stalked three deep then four wide on the backstretch, continued three wide on the second turn and into the stretch and weakened. SCORPIO angled in and dueled inside then stalked along the rail, dropped back into and on the second turn, gave way and was eased in deep stretch. A DAY AT THE RACES saved ground off the pace, fell back on the backstretch and second turn, also gave way and was eased in the final furlong.