Racing! Laffit Pincay III, where have you gone?

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

First, let’s start with a compliment to a television network. (Yeah, you know that means the opposite is coming.) Kudos to baby NBC for sticking with the Whitney on Saturday when an electrical storm delayed the running of the race. They had to supplant a show called Racing Roots and then another NASCAR show to do it.

So, again, good job by NBC Lite. I guess I was surprised when it made the right decision because they don’t always. For example, why do they make the very capable Larry Collmus call all Triple Crown races and the Breeders’ Cup when people would love to hear the equally (if not more) talented Michael Wrona and Trevor Denman call the races when the Breeders’ Cup comes to Southern California.

OK, enough about that.

I also thought Saturday’s broadcast made me realize how much I like Laffit Pincay III. I’m hoping his absence from the Whitney was a scheduling conflict and not some bone-headed move by NBC. Nick Luck was his replacement. Now, I still have a bad taste from Luck’s Eclipse Award performance where he thought he was more important than the awards, hijacking and elongating an already long night.

And besides that, why does he always sound like he’s trying to force words out of his mouth as fast as humanly possible?

Just hoping to see Laffit back with Jerry Bailey and Randy Moss. Good team.

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 ninth race at Del Mar. It’s yours, Rob.

“This is the bottom level with regard to maiden claimers, $20,000 runners going seven furlongs. These races are often one of two things — either unplayable, as we always remind our members that races and horses should be backed based on positive attributes and not as a result of who’s the best of the worst. Or, a short price wins it, clearly a standout amongst a bad group, just not many “In between” type of winners in these low-level maiden races. Horses who’ve had eight tries at the bottom level, never enter our radar, it’s always a “been there done that,” view we take with those sorts. We need to find the runner who’d doing something new, and/or has recent confidence on his or her side. Both could be said for our top pick here TWISTED ROAD (#11). She’s responded with two straight good efforts off the drop, now stringing three races together for the first time in his career, still only making his sixth career lifetime start, also moving from 5 ½ to ⅞. We love the very slow drill at San Luis Rey, telling us they needed nothing from him while awaiting this next offering. In a race full of poor runners, this would be a single for us to end the day.

“Hot / Cold Race Trends: none

“WCHR Maiden Power Rating: -5.50 (very poor)

“Win Contenders (order of preference): 11-1

“X Out Runners (eliminating on the win end): 2,3,4,5,6,8,9

“Morning Line Underlays / Overlays:

“11 Twisted Road - Morning Line 5-2 / WCHR Line 7-5

“TOP PICK: TWISTED ROAD (#11 5-2 A Espinoza)

“SECOND CHOICE: CATCH FIRE (#1 8-1 Garcia)”

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

Del Mar review

Before we get to the stakes races, a pretty good day of racing was ruined with a bad spill in deep stretch in the last race. The stewards placed Aussie Fox, who finished third, to last place after appearing to drift into the path of other horses.

Irish Spring went down hard and was removed by horse ambulance but did not survive the incident. Bitter Ring Home did get up and was picked up by an outrider. Both jockeys were unseated. Corey Nakatani and Geovanni Franco were taken off the course on backboards and taken to Scripps La Jolla for further examination. Neither injury appeared life threatening and they were moving their extremities.

Details on the spill were from Steve Andersen and Jay Privman of the Daily Racing Form.

As for the Grade 2 $200,000 Yellow Ribbon Handicap, favorite Cambodia made a strong stretch effort to win by 2 1/2 lengths over Madame Stripes. It was his second straight win in this stakes run over 1 1/16 miles over the turf for horses 3 and up.

Cambodia paid $5.40, $3.20 and $2.60 for trainer Tom Proctor. Sophie P was third.

“She put me up there in the race,” winning jockey Drayden Van Dyke. “She’s got that natural speed and she wants to be in the race. I was just biding my time. I had a couple to beat, but I had good aim. She likes this turf course, no doubt. It’s all clicking for me right now. I’m feeling good and riding good. I want to keep it going.”

In the first stakes, the $100,000 Graduation Stakes for 2-year-olds going 5 ½ furlongs, Tap the Wire rallied to win by 3 1/2-lengths over Luck’s Royal Flush.

Tap the Wire, for trainer Daniel Dunham and Van Dyke, paid $8.00, $4.40 and $4.00.

“He broke really well,” Van Dyke said. “We were just sitting in there. He was relaxed. I asked him in the stretch and he went. When we went by Gary Stevens [on leader Luck’s Royal Flush], he eased up. I was watching the big screen to see if anything was coming, but we were OK. I had a lot left. If anything came to him, I think my horse would have surged again.”

It was Dunham’s first stakes win at Del Mar.

“I’ve won a stake before, but that was 15 years ago at Pomona,” Dunham said. “The [win] was one of the first baby races of the year, so we were able to give him a little time and have pointed to this race all along. This horse is a San Luis Rey fire survivor. He was turned loose and I found him the next day in a field of a different ranch. No major burns or anything; he was lucky. He came to Del Mar and trained here, so he knows the place.”

Del Mar preview

It’s a nine-race card with the usual late start of 2 p.m. There are two stakes races and three on the turf.

The featured stakes is the Grade 2 $200,000 Sorrento Stakes for 2-year-old fillies going 6 furlongs. Bellafina is the 7-2 favorite for trainer Simon Callaghan and jockey Flavien Prat. This is her second start, having finished second at Los Alamitos in her debut.

“It was a touch disappointing at the time, but it was from the No. 1 hole and we’ve added some blinkers since then which will help her focus,” Callaghan told Hank Wesch of Del Mar. “I think the extra distance is going to help and I think she’s ready to step up and show what we think she’s capable of doing.”

The second favorite is Del Mar May, who also finished second in her debut race, earlier in this meet. She is trained by Richard Baltas and ridden by Corey Nakatani. The race is set to go around 5:30 p.m.

Earlier there is the Grade 3 $150,000 La Jolla Handicap for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles. The favorite is River Boyce at 7-5 for Jeff Mullins and Prat. The colt has won four of nine starts including victories in the Rainbow and Pasadena at Santa Anita. Second favorite, at 3-1, at Calexman, who has won two of nine races. This will be his first graded stakes.

Big Races review

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

Saratoga: $100,000 Del La Rose Stakes, NY-bred fillies and mares 4 and up, 1 mile on turf. Winner: Uni ($7.20)

Woodbine: $125,000 Shady Well Stakes, Ontario-bred fillies 2-years-old, 5 ½ furlongs on turf. Winner: Tiz Breathtaking ($3.90)

Mountaineer: Grade 3 $200,000 West Virginia Governor’s Stakes, 3 and up, 1 1/16 miles. Winner: Leofric ($4.20)

Saratoga: Grade 1 $500,000 Test Stakes, fillies 3-years-old, 7 furlongs. Winner: Seperationofpowers ($6.60)

Mountaineer: Grade 3 $500,000 West Virginia Derby, 3-year-olds, 1 1/8 miles. Winner: Mr Freeze ($15.20)

Saratoga: Grade 1 $1.2 million Whitney Handicap, 3 and up, 1 1/8 miles. Winner: Diversify ($5.20)

Gulfstream: $100,000 Dr. Fager Stakes, Fla-bred 2-year-olds, 6 furlongs. Winner: Cajun Firecracker ($16.20)

Saratoga: Grade 3 $200,000 Waya Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 ½ miles on turf. Cancelled.

Del Mar: $100,000 Graduation Stakes, Cal-bred 2-year-olds, 5 ½ furlongs. Winner: Tap the Wire ($8.00)

Gulfstream: $100,000 Desert Vixen Stakes, Fla-bred fillies 2-years-old, 6 furlongs. Winner: Capture Your Dream ($3.40)

Saratoga: $100,000 Lure Stakes, NY-breds 4 and up, 1 1/16 miles on turf. Cancelled.

Penn National: $100,000 Robellino Stakes, Penn-bred 3 and up, 1 1/16 miles on turf. Winner: Someday Jones ($12.20)

Del Mar: Grade 2 $200,000 Yellow Ribbon Handicap, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 1/16 miles on turf. Winner: Cambodia ($5.40)

Albuquerque: $200,000 Downs at Albuquerque Stakes, 3 and up, 1 1/8 miles. Winner: Hence ($4.40)

Big races preview

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

10:59 Woodbine: $125,000 Clarendon Stakes, Ontario-bred 2-year-olds, 5 ½ furlongs. Favorite: Crawl From the Bar (7-5)

12:15 Saratoga: Grade 3 $200,000 Troy Stakes, 3 and up, 5 ½ furlongs on the turf. Favorite: Disco Partner (8-5)

12:42 Ellis Park: $100,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Sprint, 3 and up, 5 ½ furlongs on turf. Favorite: Will Call (8-5)

1:10 Ellis Park: $100,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Cup, 3 and up, 1 ¼ miles on turf. Favorite: Arklow (9-5)

1:46 Woodbine: $100,000 Eternal Search Stakes, Ontario-bred fillies 3-years-olds, 1 1/16 miles. Favorite: She’s Got Fire (6-5)

2:10 Ellis Park: $100,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Mile, 3 and up, 1 mile on turf. Favorite: Mr. Misunderstood (1-1)

2:40 Ellis Park: $100,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Turf, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 mile on turf. Favorite: Lovely Bernadette (5-2)

3:03 Del Mar: Grade 3 $150,000 La Jolla Handicap, 3 and up, 1 1/16 miles on turf. Favorite: River Boyne (7-5)

3:18 Saratoga: $100,000 Alydar Stakes, 4 and up, 1 1/8 miles. Favorite: Timeline (7-5)

4:30 Presque Isle Downs: $100,000 Malvern Rose Stakes, Penn-bred fillies 3-years-old, 1 mile. Favorite: Dixie Serenade (3-1)

5:33 Del Mar: Grade 2 $200,000 Sorrento Stakes, fillies 2-years-old, 6 furlongs. Favorite: Bellafina (7-2)

Bob Ike’s DMR pick of the day

EIGHTH RACE: No. 10 Del Mar May (9-2)

Maiden from the Richard Baltas barn ran a very strong second when debuting behind talented Brill and may not be overmatched at all as she tackles juvenile stakes runners today. Drawn well outside and exiting the best race, she figures to fire a good shot despite the relative short time in between races.

Saturday’s result: Make It a Triple joined a cavalry charge down the stretch but was only fifth best.

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

FIFTH RACE: No. 5 Stel Chancey (7-2)

Even though her rider Barrington Harvey is more effective on thoroughbreds than on quarter horses, I still like this 4-year-old mare’s chances in her second lifetime start. In runnerup debut from the rail post, she galloped out strong after breaking slow while getting bumped at the start. She gets an additional 30 yards and a positive post switch. Her three gate drills before debut were at 350 yards so the 330-yard distance suits her nicely here.

Final thoughts

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, 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, Saturday’s results and Sunday’s entries.

ITS GONNA HURT stalked the early pace then bid inside, dueled a bit off the rail then inside on the turn, inched away and drifted out into the stretch and won clear under a tap of the whip and a vigorous hand ride. FORTNITE DANCE sped to the early lead off the inside, dueled between horses then outside the winner on the turn, was fanned out some into the stretch and held second. SURPRISE FASHION between rivals early, chased inside, came off the rail in deep stretch and split foes late for the show. LEAD STAR three deep early, angled in and chased outside a rival, came some in the stretch and was edged for third. TANKER stalked early then pressed the pace three deep, tracked off the rail then outside a rival leaving the turn, came four wide into the stretch and was edged for a minor share. OIL CAN KNIGHT broke slowly, saved ground stalking the pace, swung out leaving the turn and into the stretch, angled back to thee inside and weakened. NIGHT OPS veered in sharply at the start, settled off the pace inside, swung out into the stretch, raced a bit greenly through the drive and did not rally.

CLOSING TIME saved ground stalking the pace, came out in upper stretch, collared the runner-up under some urging in deep stretch and proved best. ROCKY ROGUE went up inside to duel for the lead, inched away and came a bit off the rail into the stretch, could not hold off the winner in deep stretch but saved the place. DOWNSIDE UP stalked outside then three deep on the backstretch and off the rail into and on the turn, came four wide into the stretch and was edged for second. SURFSIDE SUNSET had speed between horses then stalked between foes, continued three wide on the turn and four wide into the stretch and was edged fro a minor share between rivals late. NIGHT AT THE OPERA four wide early, dueled three deep then outside the runner-up on the turn and weakened in the final furlong. ARTISTIC AB broke slowly, pulled his way between horses chasing the pace then a bit off the rail on the turn, angled to the inside into the stretch and weakened. CAPTAIN WALKER a step slow to begin, was sent between rivals to press the pace, stalked a bit off the rail, dropped back between horses leaving the turn then outside a rival into the stretch and also weakened.

CONQUEST TYPHOON angled in and stalked inside, bid between rivals to gain the lead into the stretch, inched clear and held under urging. ROYAL ALBERT HALL (GB) saved ground chasing the pace, came out into the stretch and gained the place. BOLD PAPA stalked between horses then outside a rival into and on the second turn, bid three deep into the stretch and held third. ANY QUESTIONS settled inside then outside a rival on the backstretch and three deep on the second turn, came four wide into the stretch and was outfinished for a minor share. DANO'S DREAM chased inside then a bit off the rail, was between horses into the stretch and was outfinished. TEMPLE KEYS hopped a bit at the start, chased outside a rival then inside on the second turn and into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. PLAY HARD TO GET stalked three deep then off the rail into and on the second turn, came three wide into the stretch and weakened. MOONLIGHT DRIVE (ITY) sped to the early lead outside foes, angled in and set the pace inside, dueled briefly into the stretch and also weakened.

TAP THE WIRE had good early speed and dueled outside a the runner-up, took a short lead leaving the turn, inched away into the stretch and drew clear under urging. LUCK'S ROYAL FLUSH sped to the early lead, dueled inside, fought back on the turn, could not match the winner in the lane but held second. OLIVER stalked the pace off the rail then a bit off the fence on the turn and into the stretch and was outfinished for the place but held third. CARNIVOROUS chased outside a rival to the stretch, drifted in a bit in deep stretch and was edged for the show. OUR SILVER OAK broke in a bit and slowly, angled in and saved ground chasing the pace, came under urging leaving the turn, continued inside in the stretch and weakened.

ROYAL DESCENDENT stalked between horses then bid between foes on the turn, took the lead outside the pacesetter into the stretch and drew clear under urging. KINDRED close up stalking the pace three deep, bid three wide on the turn and into the stretch and edged a rival for the place. COME ON KAT had speed between horses then set the pace a bit off the rail, dueled inside on the turn and into the stretch and lost second late. VARANASI saved ground stalking the pace, came off the rail in deep stretch and lacked the needed rally. MADAKET SUNSET broke in, bobbled and bumped a rival, chased off the rail then outside, went three deep on the turn and four wide into the stretch and could not summon the necessary response. WHAT'S BRUIN broke out a bit, chased three deep then off the rail on the turn, came three wide into the stretch and did not rally. TANDALICIOUS bumped at the start, settled off the rail then chased inside, came out into the stretch and gave way.

LITTLE JUANITO stalked a bit off the rail, angled to the inside in the stretch, rallied under urging to the front in deep stretch and gamely prevailed. CIRCUS ACT dueled inside, inched away on the turn, fought back a bit off the rail in the stretch and between foes late and held second. WHAT'SONTHEAGENDA dueled between foes, stalked leaving the turn, bid again in the stretch and went on willingly late. FIGHT ON had good early speed and dueled between horses, stalked on the turn, bid again in the stretch and was edged for third. MY HEART AWAKENS angled in and saved ground chasing the pace to the stretch, came out in the lane and bested the others. CATFISH HUNTER chased off the rail, came out in the stretch and lacked the needed rally. OISEAU DE GUERRE pressed the pace four wide, stalked leaving the turn, came four wide into the stretch and weakened in the final furlong. CONQUEST SUPERSTAR pressed the pace five wide then stalked four wide on the turn and into the stretch and also weakened. CUMMINGS dueled between horses, stalked between foes on the turn, angled inward in the stretch and also weakened. STYLISTICS UNITED angled in and settled outside a rival, continued just off the rail on the turn, came out in the stretch and did not rally.

SIGALERT stalked a bit off the rail then inside, came out in upper stretch, rallied under some urging to gain the lead in deep stretch and held between foes. EXTRA HOPE dropped back off the rail then just off the inside into and on the turn and into the stretch, came out in upper stretch and finished willingly late. STUBBINS a step slow to begin, went up inside to duel for the lead, took a short advantage past the eighth pole, inched away briefly in deep stretch and fought back inside late. EASY SHOT chased between horses, angled to the inside into the stretch and lacked the needed late kick. DINESEN saved ground chasing the pace, came out in upper stretch and could not offer the necessary late response. UNION STATION dropped back off the rail without early speed, angled in some on the turn, came out in the stretch and improved position. NEPTUNE'S STORM sent between horses early, stalked off the rail, angled in outside a rival into the stretch and weakened. DARK PRINCE had good early speed and dueled outside a rival, fought back in the stretch then weakened late. LACAZETTE chased outside then three deep on the turn and into the stretch, drifted inward in the drive and weakened. BABAEL stalked outside then four wide into the turn, angled in outside a rival on the turn, came out four wide into the stretch and also weakened.

CAMBODIA stalked three deep, bid outside the pacesetter leaving the second turn, took the lead into the stretch, kicked clear under urging and proved best. MADAME STRIPES (ARG) close up stalking the pace between horses then inside on the second turn, came out some in the stretch and held second. SOPHIE P (GB) angled in and chased inside, came out leaving the second turn and four wide into the stretch and was edged for the place five wide on the line. HALLIE BELLE saved ground chasing the pace, went between horses on the second turn and into the stretch, continued between foes through the final furlong and was edged for third. STORM THE HILL stalked outside a rival then three deep on the second turn and four wide into the stretch and was edged for a minor award between rivals late. MIDNIGHT CROSSING (IRE) saved ground stalking the pace, continued inside in the stretch and was outfinished for a minor share. PANTSONFIRE (IRE) angled in and settled outside a rival, came out leaving the second turn and four wide into the stretch and made up some ground lacked the needed rally. BEAU RECALL (IRE) saved ground chasing the pace, came out three wide into the stretch and also lacked the necessary late kick. SASSY LITTLE LILA sped to the early lead, set the pace inside, dueled on the backstretch, inched away again on the second turn, came a bit off the rail in the stretch and weakened in the final furlong. TISBUTADREAM (IRE) angled in and chased outside a rival, came out leaving the second turn and five wide into the stretch and lacked a further response. ANCIENT SECRET bobbled at the start, stalked off the rail then bid outside a rival to duel for the lead, had that one slip away on the second turn, was in tight between foes into the stretch and weakened.

TATTERS TO RICHES saved ground stalking the pace, bid inside leaving the turn to take the lead into the stretch, kicked clear under urging and held. SOLID WAGER stalked a bit off the rail then inside into the stretch, came out some in the drive and went willingly between foes late. FLAGSTAFF pressed the pace five wide then stalked outside, went four wide on the turn and into the stretch and also continued willingly late. STREET VISION dueled between horses, came three wide into the stretch and was coming back late. MAKE IT A TRIPLE had speed six wide then stalked outside, came five wide into the stretch and continued on well late. CATS BLAME settled a bit off the rail, angled in on the turn and improved position inside in the stretch. SHADES OF VICTORY dueled between horses then stalked outside on the turn, came three deep into the stretch and weakened. ALL OUT BLITZ dueled between horses then three and four wide on the turn, came four wide into the stretch and also weakened. FAST PASS broke a bit slowly, dropped back inside, came out into the stretch and lacked a rally. GRAZEN SKY chased off the rail then dropped back a bit off the fence on the turn and did not rally. GRACIDA chased outside then off the rail, came three wide into the stretch and weakened. GRADE ONE dueled inside rivals but a bit off the rail, was between foes leaving the turn and into the stretch and also weakened.

STARTING BLOC three deep early, angled in and chased inside then outside a rival on the second turn, came five wide into the stretch and rallied under urging to get up late. ZIPMAN saved ground off the pace, came out on the second turn and four wide into the stretch, rallied under urging to the front past midstretch but was caught late. AUSSIE FOX chased between horses, came in on a rival in upper stretch then went around a foe late for third. CAPALL had speed inside to duel for the lead, inched away off the rail into the stretch, kicked clear, drifted in past midstretch and weakened late. DIGNITAIRE angled in and dueled outside a rival, fought back on the second turn and weakened in the final furlong. GOTNOQUIT stalked three deep then outside a rival leaving the second turn, came three wide into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. POINTED settled off the rail then a bit off the fence, came out four wide into the stretch, was slammed and forced outward in upper stretch and lacked the needed rally. SPIRIT MISSION angled in and saved ground chasing the pace, came out leaving the second turn and three deep into the stretch, also was slammed and forced outward in upper stretch and lacked a further response. SILVER FURY stalked inside then between foes on the second turn and into the stretch, steadied sharply when impeded at the spill in upper stretch and was eased up late. KATIE'S COWBOY chased three deep then four wide into the stretch, was slammed and forced outward into a rival in upper stretch and was eased in the final furlong. BITTER RING HOME three wide early, angled in and stalked inside, inched forward leaving the second turn then fell over a fallen rival in upper stretch. IRISH SPRING stalked between horses then inside on the second turn and into the stretch, clipped heels and fell in upper stretch and was vanned off. Following a stewards' inquiry, AUSSIE FOX was disqualified and placed last for interference in upper stretch.