Racing! Accelerate gets ready for his last race

Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as we get ready for a huge day of racing at Gulfstream.

Gulfstream’s Saturday card might be the best top-to-bottom anywhere all winter long with nine stakes races, including the $9-million Pegasus World Cup and $7-million Pegasus World Cup Turf. The big races are going to be on NBC, but they are early for those on the West Coast, so don’t let the day get away from you. The broadcast is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.-3 p.m. PST. But, the good thing about having network TV involved is the big races will go on time.

We’ve got a story on Accelerate’s last race, mostly through the eyes of his co-owner Kosta Hronis. You can read it here.

Pretty much everyone thinks it’s a two-horse race between Accelerate (9-5 morning line) and City of Light (5-2), the only horse to beat Accelerate last year. They were one-two in the Oaklawn Handicap. And, guess what? Both are Southern California-based.

There are a few good story lines. And perhaps the most interesting is Kukulkan, who is undefeated in 14 starts, and is 30-1 on the morning line. Huh? Well, 13 of those races were in Mexico but he did win the Caribbean Classic Stakes at Gulfstream last out.

And then there is Bravazo, the horse that gave Justify his closest finish in the fog-shrouded Preakness. He’s 12-1 and Wayne Lukas has certainly been running him a lot. But, he hasn’t won since the Risen Star at Fair Grounds last February.

Audible is another interesting story in that after tearing up the Derby preps last year and finishing third in the Kentucky Derby, he disappeared. Since he had the same ownership connections as Justify, the conspiracy people were saying they were keeping him away from racing Justify. But it seems he just wasn’t right. He came back and won a minor stakes at Churchill on Breeders’ Cup weekend and the ran a disappointing second in the Harlan’s Holiday at Gulfstream. He’s 10-1.

You can’t count out Gunnevera at 8-1. He’s had a much-overlooked last year. He was second to Accelerate in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, second to Yoshida in the Woodward and third in last year’s Pegasus.

Oh, there’s also a $7-million turf race. Yoshida is the 5-2 favorite. Trainer John Sadler has brought Catapult out and he’s 7-2. He was second in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. And Richard Baltas has brought Next Shares, winner of the San Gabriel Stakes, who is getting no love at 15-1.

I’ll be at Gulfstream on Saturday so look for coverage on the web, in print, and, of course, the newsletter.

Who goofed, I’ve got to know

Of course, me. Weston Hamilton was, indeed, the winner of the Apprentice Jockey Eclipse, which I had wrong in one spot but right in another. As a side note, this category is endangered. There has been talk of dropping it because it’s basically won by the apprentice with the most wins every year. And, not every jockey is an apprentice for the entire year. As for me, I’m ambivalent on its inclusion. Long as we get to keep the Steeplechase category.

Santa Anita review

In Friday’s newsletter, we talked about the best race being the first race and how that’s unusual. The thinking, we were guessing, was the racing office wanted to guard against a scratch and have two six-horses fields on the back end of the program with all the horizontals. Well, they had their spidey-sense working as the race did scratch to a field of six.

The race was a one-mile allowance on the turf for 4-year-old fillies, worth $67,000. Streak of Luck and Love and Peace lingered near the back of the field for the first half of the race and then swung wide entering the stretch to finish one-two. Streak of Luck was the winner by 1 ¼ lengths. She paid $6.60, $2.80 and $2.40. Luminoso was third.

Streak of Luck was trained by Matthew Chew and ridden by Mike Smith.

Santa Anita preview

It’s a big day for Cal-breds at Santa Anita, plus the track is squeezing out 11 races with a first post of 11:30 a.m. No doubt they will be pushing the Pegasus races all day, or even some of the other stakes. There are four Cal-bred stakes, two early and two late. There are five turf races, two allowance/optional claimers and only one maiden race. The average field size is 8.1

Just for ease, let’s break the Cal-bred stakes races down one by one.

California Turf Sprint Stakes (12:30 p.m.): It’s 6 ½ furlongs down the hill for 3-year-olds. The purse is $100,000. Our Silver Oak is the 5-2 favorite for trainer William Morey and jockey Drayden Van Dyke. The gelding is one-for-five lifetime and is coming off a second in the King Glorious Stakes at Los Alamitos. The second favorite, at 7-2, is Irish Heatwave for Keith Desormeaux and Assael Espinoza. This colt is two-for-four including wins in his last two races. His last race was an allowance/optional claimer.

California Cup Sprint Stakes (1 p.m.): This is a six-furlong race older horses, running for a purse of $150,000. Richard’s Boy is the 6-5 favorite for Peter Miller and Heriberto Figueroa. This 6-year-old gelding has been in the money 25-of-35 lifetime starts. He was second last out in an allowance but clearly his connections thought something of him as he ran in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. He finished 14^th. Edwards Going Left, at 2-1, has also been running at a high level, including Grade 1s. He is 12-for-16 lifetime in the money. His last win was last Jan. 18 when he won this race. Sadler trains and Tyler Baze rides.

Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint (3:50 p.m.): Older fillies and mares will be going 6 ½ furlongs down the hill for a total purse of $150,000. S Y Sky is the 9-5 favorite for Phil D’Amato and Joe Talamo. She is one-for-eight lifetime, with that one victory coming in a minor stakes on May 29, 2017. She was off from July of 2017 until October 2018. So, she’s lightly raced. Cordiality, at 3-1, is first off a $62,500 claim for Miller. Van Dyke will ride. She was three-of-eight last year and 9-of-25 lifetime.

Unusual Heat Turf Classic (4:50 p.m.): The last race on the card, this is 1 1/8 miles on the turf for older horses, running for $200,000. Ashleyluvssugar is the 3-1 favorite for Peter Eurton and Tyler Baze, who takes over the regular ride from retired Gary Stevens. He is 10-for-30 lifetime and hasn’t won since May 28, 2017. He runs mostly stakes races. Marckie’s Water is the 7-2 second choice for Baltas and Mario Gutierrez. He was fourth last out in the Hollywood Turf Cup and won an allowance the race before that.

Here are the field sizes, in order: 10, 6, 7, 6, 6, 8, 8, 9, 8, 10, 11.

Big races preview

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

9:30 Gulfstream (3): $150,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint, 4 and up, 5 furlongs on turf. Favorite: World of Trouble (6-5)

10:31 Gulfstream (5): $150,000 Ladies’ Turf Sprint Stakes, fillies and mares 4 and up, 5 furlongs on turf. Favorite: Morticia (7-2)

11:02 Gulfstream (6): $125,000 South Beach Stakes, fillies and mares 4 and up, 7 ½ furlongs on turf. Favorite: Capla Temptress (7-2)

11:33 Gulfstream (7): Grade 3 $150,000 Hurricane Bertie Stakes, fillies and mares 4 and up, 7 furlongs. Favorite: Shamrock Rose (2-1)

12:05 Gulfstream (8): Grade 3 $200,000 La Prevoyante Handicap, fillies and mares 4 and up, 1 ½ miles on turf. Favorite: Holy Helena (3-1)

12:30 Santa Anita (3): $100,000 Cal Cup Turf Sprint Stakes, Cal-bred 3-year-olds, 6 ½ furlongs on turf. Favorite: Our Silver Oak (5-2)

12:38 Gulfstream (9): Grade 3 $150,000 Fred W. Hooper, 4 and up, 1 mile. Favorite: Coal Front (9-5)

12:49 Aqueduct (8): $100,000 Jazil Stakes, 4 and up, 1 1/8 miles. Favorite: Sunny Ridge (1-1)

1:00 Santa Anita (4): $150,000 California Cup Sprint, Cal-bred 4 and up, 6 furlongs. Favorite: Richard’s Boy (9-5)

1:14 Gulfstream (10): Grade 3 $200,000 W.L. McKnight Handicap, 4 and up, 1 ½ miles on turf. Favorite: Zulu Alpha (4-1)

1:51 Gulfstream (11): Grade 1 $7 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational, 4 and up, 1 3/16 miles on turf. Favorite: Yoshida (5-2)

2:36 Gulfstream (12): Grade 1 $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational, 4 and up, 1 1/8 miles. Favorite: Accelerate (9-5)

2:38 Oaklawn (8): $100,000 American Beauty Stakes, fillies and mares 4 and up, 6 furlongs. Favorite: Vertical Oak (7-5)

3:50 Santa Anita (9): $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly/Mare Turf Sprint, Cal-bred fillies and mares 4 and up, 6 ½ furlongs on turf. Favorite: S Y Sky (9-5)

4:50 Santa Anita (11): $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic, Cal-breds 4 and up, 1 1/8 miles on turf. Favorite: Ashleyluvssugar (3-1)

Bob Ike’s SA pick of the day

ELEVENTH RACE: No. 5 Marckie's Water (7-2)

Hard-knocking turf horse from the Richard Baltas stable was in steep last time when finishing fourth in the Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar but gets back in with Cal-breds today over a distance and course he loves. Look for a big effort in this spot and play in the exacta with sharp front-runner King Abner (6-1), who could be dangerous if he can run this far.

Friday’s result: Rumpus Cat swung four wide into the stretch but didn’t have enough and just got nipped for show.

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

SEVENTH RACE: No. 6 Farmboy Payday (5-2)

This gelding broke with his head in the air and shifted inward at the start of last fifth-place try vs. stronger from the rail post where he finished with a nice stride. He now gets a positive post switch, drops two class levels and benefits by an additional 30 yards. Treacherous, who won easily for $5,000 and steps up to $12,500, is the one I fear most. I suggest betting Farmboy Payday to win and make a 2-6 exacta box.

Final thought

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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, Friday’s results and Saturday’s entries.

STREAK OF LUCK angled in and stalked outside a rival, came out leaving the second turn and four wide into the stretch, rallied under left handed urging to the front nearing the sixteenth pole and inched away under steady handling late. LOVE AND PEACE (FR) settled inside then outside a rival on the backstretch and a bit off the rail into the second turn, went three wide leaving that turn and five wide into the stretch and gained the place. LUMINOSO angled in and saved ground chasing the pace, continued inside in the stretch and got up for the show. SO HI SOCIETY (IRE) stalked the pace inside, came out into the stretch, continued between foes in the drive and was bumped twice past midstretch and was edged for third. KELLY'S HUMOR close up stalking the pace outside a rival, came three wide into the stretch, bumped twice with a rival while between foes past midstretch and also was edged for a minor award. TRAVIEZA sped to the early lead, set the pace inside, came a bit off the rail in midstretch, was between foes in deep stretch and weakened. The stewards conducted an inquiry into the stretch run between the fourth and fifth finishers but made no change when they ruled the contact between those two was mutual.

SILK FROM HEAVEN stalked inside then a bit off the rail on the turn, steadied briefly off heels leaving the turn, came out into the stretch, bid insiside the runner-up to gain the lead in midstretch and pulled clear under urging. DON'T SELL stalked early then pressed the pace outside a rival, took a short lead leaving the turn, drifted out into the stretch, battled outside the winner in midstretch and just held second. KITTY BOOM BOOM chased a bit off the rail, came out in the stretch and was edged for the place. BLUEGRASS BETTY stalked outside a rival, came three wide into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. TIP TOP GAL sped to the early lead, set a pressured pace inside, fought back leaving the turn and into the stretch and weakened. MISS OMNIPOTENT pulled her way along outside and steadied off heels midway on the backstretch, dropped back off the rail on the turn and gave way.

CIAO LUNA stalked outside a rival, bid three deep leaving the second turn and through the stretch and gamely prevailed under urging. SOUGHT MORE PEP sped to the early lead, set the pace inside, inched away when a rival loomed on the backstretch, fought back along the rail leaving the second turn and through the stretch and continued gamely to the wire. SMART RACHEL stalked a bit off the rail then bid outside the runner-up on the backstretch, tracked again a half mile out, re-bid between foes leaving the second turn and through the stretch and also went on willingly late. BLOOMING HANNAH sent along inside early, saved ground stalking the pace, came out in midstretch and lacked the needed rally. MIZ TIANJIN broke a bit slowly, chased inside then a bit off the rail on the second turn, came three wide into the stretch and lacked a further response. RESKY BUSINESS bobbled a bit then steadied in a slow start, chased outside a rival, dropped back off the rail and gave way.

OSTINI had speed outside a rival then angled in and set the pace inside, responded when challenged in the stretch, fought back under urging then inched away in deep stretch and held under steady handling late. PALERMO STYLE stalked three deep to the stretch and finished with interest outside the winner late. COOL YOUR JETS saved ground stalking the pace, came out into the stretch, bid outside the winner in midstretch, could not match the top pair in the final sixteenth but bested the rest. BOUNCING AROUND pulled his way along inside, saved ground stalking the pace and weakened inside in the drive. RECKLESS GRAVITY broke in and was pinched a bit, angled in and chased inside then outside a rival on the second turn and three wide into the stretch and did not rally. LEROY PEGASUS stalked off the rail or outside a rival, angled to the fence entering the stretch and weakened. SINGLE ME OUT between rivals on the first turn, stalked outside a foe or just off the rail, was between horses into the stretch and also weakened.

HELOISE chased outside a rival then off the rail on the turn, came three wide into the stretch, rallied under left handed urging to the front in deep stretch and won clear. SWEETENER had good early speed and pressed the pace inside then dueled on a short lead along the rail on the turn, inched clear in the stretch, could not hold off the winner but held second. CRACKLING BREAD prompted the pace three deep then stalked off the rail on the turn, came three wide into the stretch and was outfinished for the place. PURDUE had good early speed and set a pressured pace between horses then dueled outside the runner-up on the turn and into the stretch and weakened in the final furlong. SHE'S NO FOOL saved ground stalking the pace to the stretch and also weakened. ENDEARMENT a step slow to begin, angled in and chased inside on the backstretch, dropped back on the turn, came out into the stretch and gave way.

BRAHMS FOREST steadied early, settled a bit off the rail, moved up inside on the second turn, came out leaving that turn and four wide into the stretch, rallied under urging to gain the lead outside foes in deep stretch and held. STARSHIP CHEWY stalked between horses on the first turn then inside, split rivals in midstretch and finished willingly along the fence. PAUL'S DIVA settled outside chasing the pace, came three wide into the stretch, drifted in a bit in midstretch, rallied to a slim advantage a sixteenth out and was edged late for the place. SANTA FE BLAZE three deep on the first turn, stalked a bit off the rail, bid outside the pacesetter to put a head in front leaving the second turn, inched clear in upper stretch, fought back past midstretch and weakened late. DEFENSE MINISTER chased outside a rival then a bit off the rail, came out on the second turn and four wide into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. GRAZENINAMERICA bobbled in a bit of a slow start, came off the rail on the first turn, chased outside a rival on the backstretch and second turn, was in a bit tight in midstretch and could not offer the necessary response. SALUTELUTE had speed outside foes then angled in and set the pace inside, dueled leaving the second turn and weakened in the stretch. SHARP RULER pulled his way along inside stalking the chasing the pace, came out a bit in the stretch and had little left for the drive.

GYPSY BLU stalked outside a rival, came three wide into the stretch to gain the lead, inched away under left handed urging, drifted in and held. MOONSHINE ANNIE settled a bit off the rail chasing the pace, also came three deep into the stretch and finished well. JUDICIAL had good early speed and dueled inside, fought back leaving the hill and into the stretch and held third. SCATHING broke a step solely, chased just off the rail, came three wide into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. EMMY AND I had good early speed and dueled outside a rival, was between foes into the stretch and weakened in the final furlong. DROP THE MIC settled a bit off the rail, angled to the inside on the hill and into the stretch and did not rally. BRAGGING RIGHTS a step slow to begin, settled just off the rail to the stretch and did not rally. CHARMINGSLEW saved ground chasing the pace, came out into the stretch and weakened. Rail on hill at 14 feet.

PRINCIPE CARLO had speed four wide then dueled three deep, took a short lead leaving the turn, inched away and drifted to the inside in the stretch and proved best under an energetic hand ride while being flagged with the whip. WHOOPING JAY saved ground chasing the pace, came out on the turn and three deep into the stretch and finished with interest to share the place. MR PAYTIENCE sent inside, dueled along the rail, fought back leaving the turn and into the stretch and held for a share of second. DADDY JONES a step slow to begin, settled off the rail, came three deep into the stretch and finished well late. RICKEY B had speed between horses then dropped back and chased outside a rival or a bit off the rail and lacked a rally. FEELING STRONG settled off the rail chasing the pace, angled to the inside leaving the turn and did not rally. SCOUTED went up between horses to duel for the lead, fought back between foes on the turn and weakened in the drive.

SOUTER (GB) saved ground stalking the pace, came out into the stretch and again in midstretch, rallied to the front three wide in deep stretch and proved best under some urging and good handling. CUPID'S CLAWS stalked inside, came out leaving the second turn and three wide into the stretch and finished well. VIA EGNATIA stalked inside then a bit off the rail, bid outside the pacesetter leaving the backstretch and on the second turn, re-bid between foes in deep stretch and held third. RUMPUS CAT between foes early, stalked outside a rival, came out four wide into the stretch and was edged for the show. SNAZZY DRESSER had speed outside then angled in and set the pace inside, dueled leaving the backstretch and on the second turn, inched away again in the stretch, fought back in deep stretch and was outkicked late. TARTINI three deep on the first turn, chased outside a rival, swung five wide into the stretch and could not quite summon the necessary late response. ZESTFUL close up stalking the pace outside a rival, came out into the stretch and lacked the needed late kick. WAR CHEST settled a bit off the rail then inside into and on the second turn and lacked a response in the stretch.