Saturday 8/26/23 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-26-2023, 07:47 AM

Jeff Siegel's What You Need to Know - Del Mar - 8/26/23

August 26, 2023
“What You Need to Know” – Del Mar
by Jeff Siegel, 1stbet.com Handicapper & Analyst

Specifically designed for the rolling exotic player, Jeff Siegel’s Daily Santa Anita Handicapping Analysis, Wagering Strategies, and Workout Commentary identify those horses that should be included in daily doubles, pick-3s, pick-4s, pick-5s, and the pick-6.
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For additional commentary, follow us on twitter @jsiegelracing.
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Grade Descriptions:
Grade A=Highest degree of confidence
Grade B=Solid Play.
Grade C=Least preferred or pass
Grade X=probable winner but likely at odds too short to play

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RACE 1: Post: 2:00 PT Grade: X
Main ticket: (in order of preference): 7-Brazen Bull
Backups/Savers/Underneath: none.

Forecast: Brazen Bull returns off a two month layoff for a new trainer in a bottom-rung maiden claiming sprint for older horses while landing the preferred outside post position. Strictly on numbers he’s a standout, so at 9/5 on the morning line and likely to go lower the son of Munnings should be a rolling exotic single, but at a shorter price than we’d probably care to take.

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RACE 2: Post: 2:29 PT Grade: B
Main ticket: (in order of preference): Mr. Disrespectful; 8-Devil Moon
Backups/Savers/Underneath: none.

Forecast: Mr. Disrespectful crushed a state-bred maiden special weight field on dirt earlier this month while earning a career top speed figure that earns him top billing on the one level raise in this five furlong starter allowance turf sprint. The son of Smiling Tiger will be making his first start on the sod, so there’s no guarantee he’ll replicate his last race under these conditions, but from the good inside draw he’ll have every chance to do so. He’s listed at 4-1 on the morning line, an acceptable price on the tote. Devil Moon has speed figures that can win but he simply isn’t one to trust. Beaten as the favorite in a similar affair over this course and distance last time out, the son of Malibu Moon goes from the rail to the outside for a barn that has been ice cold all meeting. Reluctantly, we’ll toss him.

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RACE 3: Post: 3:03 PT Grade: C+
Main ticket (in order of preference): 8-Pequena Tormenta; 2-Slam Diego
Backups/savers/Underneath: none.

Forecast: Paquena Tormenta plummets in class seeking her winning level and may have found it in this restricted (nw-3) $20,000 claiming sprint for fillies and mares. She has speed figures that far exceed par for this level and two bullet workouts since raced, so she’s either being advertised for sale by Jeff Mullins or dropping in class to steal a purse. We’ll believe the latter. Slam Diego was an easy winner for restricted (nw-2) $25,000 in late July and was promptly claimed by trainer Dean Pederson in what appeared to be a shrewd purchase. But this drop to the $20,000 level in her first start for new connections may indicate the new connections aren’t thrilled with the merchandise. We’ll include both in our rolling exotics in a race that should be approached with caution.

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RACE 4: Post: 3:34 PT Grade: B
Main ticket (in order of preference): 5-Mirahmadi; 7-Sense
Backups/Savers/Underneath: none.

Forecast: Mirahmadi has burned money in both of his career starts but with two sprints under his belt before this stretch out in trip the son of Into Mischief gets one more chance to verify his press clippings. The Bob Baffert-trained colt has recorded three successive bullet drills over the Del Mar main track and remains highly regarded by his connections; however, if he’s going to be a good colt this is the type of race he has to win. Sense represents stranger danger. The Richard Mandella-trained 2-year-old has done some good work in the morning while acting like a colt who can easily handle a distance of ground in his debut. The son of Street Sense from La Canada S.-G2 stakes winning Spellbound looks like a genuinely nice prospect and is a “must include” at 4-1 on the morning line.

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RACE 5: Post: 4:06 PT Grade: B
Main ticket (in order of preference): 6-Freedom Lass; 5-Gracelund Gray
Backups/Savers/Underneath: 1-Kitty Kitano.

Forecast: Freedom Lass appears well spotted for a major effort, though she’s always been a bit more interested in finishing second and third (11 times) than winning (four times) in her 26-race career. She has a good stalking style with consistent speed figures and a prior win over this course, so let’s hope that she reproduces her best form in this mile grass affair for second level allowance fillies and mares. Gracelund Gray, an upset winner here on turf last year, has been away since October but has fired fresh in the past and shows a recent work tab that is quite impressive. If ready – and we think she is – the daughter of Goldencents has a strong look at 6-1 on the morning line.

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RACE 6: Post: 4:35 PT Grade: B
Main ticket (in order of preference): 2-Colt Fiction; 5-My Man Bags; 6-Positivity
Backups/Savers/Underneath: 8-Tiger Dad.

Forecast: Colt Fiction is fresh from a confidence building win after being dropped into the $32,000 ranks and may prove to be a timely purchase by new trainer Simon Callaghan, who rarely participates in the claiming game. A five time winner in eight career starts over the Del Mar main track, the son of Ministers Wild Cat is raised a notch while retaining Edwin Maldonado and should be capable of scoring again with a repeat of his last performance. He has several back speed figures that are better than par for this level, so at his morning line of 7/2 he looks quite playable. My Man Bags finished last in a recent turf sprint while hating the surface and refusing to extend himself. Back on dirt and dropping to a level at which he can compete, the veteran Daredevil gelding must be given a reasonable chance to bounce back. Positively is solid on numbers with two prior wins over this main strip. He’s a one-paced sort but his best race puts him in the fray.

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RACE 7: Post: 5:04 PT Grade: B-
Main ticket (in order of preference): 11-Harry’s Onthefly; 1-Uncle Reg
Backups/Savers/Underneath: 5-Quintecents.

Forecast: Harry’s Onthefly arrives from Florida seeking valuable ship-and-win money and charts well in this maiden special weight five furlong turf sprint based on his solid form in three starts at Gulfstream Park. He’s a tad light in the speed figure department and he’ll have to overcome the far outside draw but the son of Khozan should settle in a comfortable second flight, stalking position and have his chance from the quarter pole home. Uncle Reg has been somewhat disappointing in his last pair but both races were stronger than par and today will be his first try on grass. He could easily step forward in a big way from his good rail draw.

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RACE 8: Post: 5:39 PT Grade: B+
Main ticket (in order of preference): 4-Arham
Backups/Savers/Underneath: 7-Principe Carlo.

Forecast: Arham has been freshened since May and the three month vacation may have done him some good. The Vladimir Cerin-trained horse is a perfect one-for-one over the local lawn, and the lightly raced son of Union Rags has won off layoffs in the past. Effective at any distance but arguably most effective around one turn, he shows a strong recent work tab that should have him cranked up and ready. At 5/2 on the morning line, he’s a win play and rolling exotic single.

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RACE 9: Post: 6:02 PT Grade: B
Main ticket (in order of preference): 2-Linda’s Gift; 3-Musical Rhapsody
Backups/Savers/Underneath: 7-Shocking Grey.

Forecast: Linda’s Gift returned off a long layoff to finish sixth in a quick five furlong dash earlier this month and with that tightener under her belt the daughter of Arrogate looks dangerous with this stretch out in trip. The barn has solid stats with the second-off-a-layoff angle so at 6-1 on the morning line the Richard Mandella-trained filly offers a good price chance in this entry level allowance middle distance turf affair for fillies and mares. Musical Rhapsody ran below expectations when finishing unplaced in a mini marathon turf event last month but based on her European form the Phil D’Amato-trained filly is worth another chance. We’re expecting the Irish-bred 4-year-old to be effective at this trip in a race that promises to have quicker early fractions will can complement her late running style.

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RACE 10: Post: 6:31 PT Grade: B+
Main ticket: (in order of preference): 9-Anarchist
Backups/savers: none.

Forecast: Anarchist has put together back-to-back excellent races facing tough graded stakes company and deserves to finally win one in this year’s edition of the Pat O’Brien Stakes-G2 over seven furlongs for older horses. Runner-up to Elite Power in the True North Stakes-G2 two runs back and then narrowly missing by a head in the Bing Crosby S.-G1 here last month, the son of Distorted Humor has but 10 races on his resume and continues to improve with experience. The Doug O’Neill-trained colt is fast on numbers and has the ideal stalking style for this extended sprint distance. With two nice breezes to tick him over since his most recent outing, he should be ready to another significant forward move, so at 7/2 on the morning line we’ll make him a strong play in the straight pool and a rolling exotic single.

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RACE 11: Post: 7:00 PT Grade: B-
Main ticket: (in order of preference): 9-Crypto Man; 3-St Ignacio; 1-Rahm
Backups/savers: none.

Forecast: Crypto Man ran well in a runner up performance at 20-1 in a similar high priced maiden claimer over the local lawn last month in just his second career start, and if he can produce any type of forward move today the Simon Callaghan-trained gelding can earn his diploma. The barn generally does quite well with this angle, so in an open fray he seems as good as any. St Ignacio is a fit on figures and projects to settle into a second flight position and have dead aim from there. Rahm shows the classic two-sprints-and-a-stretch out pattern, lands the good rail, and is likely to be close up throughout, perhaps even on the lead in a race that should have soft early fractions. The Peter Miller-trained gelding is intriguing at 6-1 on the morning line.

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-26-2023, 07:48 AM

Jeff Siegel's What You Need to Know - Saratoga - 8/26/23

August 26, 2023
“What You Need to Know” - Saratoga
by Jeff Siegel, 1stbet.com Handicapper & Analyst

Specifically designed for the rolling exotic player, Jeff Siegel’s Daily Santa Anita Handicapping Analysis, Wagering Strategies, and Workout Commentary identify those horses that should be included in daily doubles, pick-3s, pick-4s, pick-5s, and the pick-6.
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For additional commentary, follow us on twitter @jsiegelracing.
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Grade Descriptions:
Grade A=Highest degree of confidence
Grade B=Solid Play.
Grade C=Least preferred or pass
Grade X=probable winner but likely at odds too short to play

__________________________________________________ ____________________________
RACE 1: Post: 11:40 ET Grade: B-
Main ticket: (in order of preference): 8-Walkstib
Backups/Savers/Underneath: none.

Forecast: Walstib missed by a neck in his debut a little more than two weeks ago and if the quick turnaround doesn’t have a negative effective on his form the son of Unified should bet set to graduate in this restricted maiden special weight sprint for juveniles. His number was just okay, but in a race that contains only those runners that brought (or were bought back) for $50,000 at auction there just isn’t a whole lot to contend with. He’s 2-1 on the morning line and probably will go a bit shorter.

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RACE 2: Post: 12:13 ET Grade: B-
Main ticket: (in order of preference): 1-City Mischief; 2-Ortus
Backups/Savers/Underneath: none.

Forecast: This race originally was carded for grass. If the race is switched to the main track, we will pass. City Mischief has been knocking on the door dating back to last year and is overdue for a win. The Into Mischief gelding has hit the board in each of his last three starts while earning solid speed figures for this level and has a right to produce a forward move in his second start off a long layoff for trainer Mark Casse (solid stats with this angle). He has good tactical speed and should have every chance from the quarter pole home. Ortus is a late-running sprinter that can be effective if things go his way. He’ll need some help up front and room to rally through the lane but with clear sailing he’ll be dangerous in the final furlong.

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RACE 3: Post: 12:46 ET Grade: B-
Main ticket (in order of preference): 3-Money Supply; 1-What’s Up Doc
Backups/savers/Underneath: 4-Mistical Curlin.

Forecast: Money Supply was sharp in victory in an off-the-turf miler for restricted (nw-2) $35,000 claimers and may provide a quick return on investment with a six day turnaround in this starter’s allowance ($50,000) affair over nine furlongs on the main track., The son of Practical Joke earned a career top speed figure in that win and if he can turn in two alike he should be able to handle the short rest and the raise in class. What’s Up Doc was disappointing in a similar spot over a mile two weeks ago but at this nine furlong trip the son of California Chrome should return to good form. He’s most effective when close to the pace, and from the rail he’ll likely inherit an ideal early position and have every chance from there.

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RACE 4: Post: 1:19 ET Grade: B-
Main ticket (in order of preference): 1-Scocciatore; 3-Osbourne; 6-Lord Captain
Backups/Savers/Underneath: none.

Forecast: Scocciatore looked sharp winning at this level last month over this track and distance and returns against similar foes while seeking to strike while the iron is hot. With two wins and a second in three career starts at the Spa, the son of Central Banker has begun to earn the reputation of a horse for course. We’ll see if that holds true today. Osbourne, fourth in the same race our top pick exits, was making his first start since April and has a right to be a little fitter and sharper today. Irad Ortiz, Jr. stays aboard, a positive sign. Lord Captain, first or second in eight of 12 career starts, remains protected by trainer Linda Riced in a sign of confidence and has a strong look with a repeat of his highly rated runner-up effort two races back.

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RACE 5: Post: 1:55 ET Grade:
Main ticket (in order of preference): 6-Nobel; 7-James Aloysius; 2-Catch That Party
Backups/Savers/Underneath: none.

Forecast: This race originally was carded for grass. If the race is switched to the main track, we will pass. Nobel is a dangerous English invader fresh off the plane for new trainer Brendan Walsh with Timeform ratings that make him a strong fit at this level on this circuit. He’s been competing in decent handicaps overseas when employing front running tactics, and in a race that projects to be slowly run early the son of Lope de Vega may prove difficult to catch if allowed to become the controlling speed. James Aloysius has solid form at the level and should produce his typical performance. He tends to lose his steam under pressure but against this group he’ll likely be a strong factor throughout. Catch That Party is partial to the local lawn (first or second in four of six starts) and is reunited with “win rider” Irad Ortiz, Jr. He's a tad light on numbers but figures to be doing his best work late and should at least get a piece of it.

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RACE 6: Post: 2:31 ET Grade: B+
Main ticket (in order of preference): Cowgirl Charm; 9-Just F Y I
Backups/Savers/Underneath: 2-Colonial Rose; 4-Shop Lifting.

Forecast: Cowgirl Charm has trained like a quick filly for Todd Pletcher and this $160,000 yearling purchase by Lookin At Luck should be a very live item in this maiden special weight juvenile sprint for fillies. Her work tab contains no fancy final times, but she’s never really been asked to show her best stuff and we suspect she’ll display plenty of power when turned loose today. Just F Y I is a first timer by Justify with plenty of talent and is the one ‘Charm probably has to worry about the most. The Bill Mott-trained filly has done everything in the morning like a high quality prospect, and if she breaks with her field she’s likely to be on or near the lead throughout.
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RACE 7: Post: 3:07 ET Grade: X
Main ticket (in order of preference): 3-Elite Power; 2-Gunite
Backups/Savers/Underneath: none.

Forecast: There are two standout contenders in this year’s Forego Stakes-G1 and either one can win, so we’ll wave the white flag and use both in our rolling exotics while otherwise passing the race. It took Elite Power the length of the grandstand to wear down Gunite when they met in the Vanderbilt H.-G1 last month. Though he’s beaten his main rival in both of their head-to-head meetings, this one could go either way in a race in which there is little early speed and Gunite could simply steal away. On the other hand, Elite Power hasn’t won eight in a row for nothing. Let’s watch and enjoy.

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RACE 8: Post: 3:43 ET Grade: B
Main ticket (in order of preference): 4-Talkin Pharoah; 6-Highly Flammable; 12-Southern Horse
Backups/Savers/Underneath: none.

Forecast: This race originally was carded for grass. If the race is switched to the main track, we will pass the race. Let’s talk a shot with the improving Talkin Pharoah, a developing Linda Rice gelding by American Pharoah making his first start on grass. He’s won his last pair with complete authority with rising numbers, and if he improves on the sod as much as we think he might, the former maiden $50,000 claimer could step up and win this first level allowance grass dash at 6-1 on the morning line. Highly Flammable is another lightly raced runner headed in the right direction. A clever winner in a starter $50,000 affair over this course and distance last month, the son of Munnings is solid on numbers while displaying a dangerous late kick. Southern Horse is a deep closing turf sprinter making his first start since April. The Santa Anita shipper can turn it on late but will need racing luck from his extreme outside draw.

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RACE 9: Post: 4:19 ET Grade: A-
Main ticket (in order of preference): 6-Arabian Lion
Backups/Savers/Underneath: 5-New York Thunder.

Forecast: Arabian Lion gets the lovely outside draw and projects to enjoy an ideal stalking trip behind the undefeated (and extremely fast) New York Thunder, who surely will be tested at this seven furlong distance with ‘Lion having the luxury of using the Nyquist colt as a target. Freshened since his dominating win in the Woody Stephens Stakes-G1 in early June, the Bob Baffert-trained colt has trained splendidly in the interim and should be set for another career top effort. ‘Thunder is blazingly fast, no doubt about it, but he’s never faced as good of a colt as he will today. We’ll see if he’s up to the task.

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RACE 10: Post: 4:55 ET Grade: A-
Main ticket (in order of preference): 6-Echo Zulu
Backups/Savers/Underneath: 7-Goodnight Olive

Forecast: Echo Zulu ran like the fastest filly in America when earning a career 110 Beyer speed figure in her blowout win in the Honorable Miss H.-G2 here last month. Anything close that type of performance will make her impossible to beat. Additionally, she’ll be the controlling speed in a seven furlong sprint that doesn’t have much of it. A perfect three for three at Saratoga and a winner of eight of 10 career starts, the daughter of Gun Runner is listed at 7/5 on the morning line and would offer great value at that price if you can get it (you won’t).

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RACE 11: Post: 5:31 ET Grade: X
Main ticket: (in order of preference): 7-Stone Age
Backups/savers: none.

Forecast: This race originally was carded for grass. If the race is switched to the main track, we will pass. Stone Age finished second in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Turf behind Rebel’s Romance but then went to Hong Kong and the Middle East and didn’t fare very well. Freshened since February, the Chad Brown-trained colt has worked like he’s fit and ready and simply should outclass his rivals in this year’s edition of the Sword Dancer Stakes for grass marathoners. The race came up light, which is why the son of Galileo, with just two wins from 15 lifetime starts, is listed as the 6/5 morning line favorite. He looks it on paper but clearly won’t offer any real wagering value at that price. This is a good race to sit out.

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RACE 12: Post: 6:11 ET Grade: A-
Main ticket (in order of preference): 2-Arcangelo
Backups/Savers/Underneath: none.

Forecast: Simply stated, Arcangelo is the now horse in this division. His Belmont Stakes-G1 win was highly impressive, more so that given credit for, and his breezes since that race have been nothing short of spectacular. The son of Arrogate projects to inherit an ideal stalking trip, similar to the one he enjoyed in New York, and then have his chance once again to prove his superiority over the two other Triple Crown race winners (Mage and National Treasure) and the Jim Dandy Stakes-G2 winner, Forte. He was an overlay at 7-1 in the Belmont Stakes and will be an overlay at or near his morning line of 5/2 in the Travers.

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RACE 13: Post: 6:48 ET Grade: A-
Main ticket: (in order of preference): 1-Right to Win/1a-Growth Capital
Backups/savers: none.

Forecast: This race originally was carded for grass. If the race is switched to the main track, we will pass. The entry looks extremely strong in the nightcap, a maiden special weight turf miler for older horses. Growth Capital missed by a head in Kentucky just about a year ago and then went to the sidelines. He’s back for trainer Chad Brown (30% with layoff runners) and shows a healthy, steady work tab that should have him fit and ready. The son of War Front is coupled in the wagering with Right to Win, a lightly raced but talented Irish-bred colt who couldn’t handle Northern Invader in a blazing fast heat at Belmont Park in July (nobody could on that day) but doesn’t have anything that good other than perhaps his entry mate to worry about in this event. The two Brown runners could finish one-two, and probably will.

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-26-2023, 07:50 AM

Al Cimaglia: Woodbine Mohawk Park Early Pick 4 Analysis

August 26, 2023 | By Al Cimaglia
Woodbine Mohawk Park has a solid 13-race card featuring talented 2-year-old trotters and pacers. The headliner rolls in Race 10, the William Wellwood Memorial for 2-year-old trotters with a $620,000 purse. The 0.20 Early Pick 4 starts in Race 4, and the sequence will be my focus.

Comments and selections below are based on a fast track.

Race 4

1-Abuckabett Hanover (3-1)-This 5-year-old can rip money out of your pocket but is difficult to leave off the ticket. Needs a trip and would lean harder if not starting from the rail. Dunn will look to not be on the engine into super quick fractions or be too far off the pace at the top of the stretch.
2-Tatoo Artist (6-1)-Willing to overlook the last race at PcD, fits better with this crew and its Wbsb record shows 21 of 27 in the money with 15 pictures. Has had trouble winning this year but owns a 1.47 mark here and Louie Roy should have forwardly placed throughout.
7-Linedrive Hanover (4-1)-Beaten chalk in the Dan Patch had a bad night, now returns to its home field and will look for much better. JMac doesn't need to lead every step of the way to win. Could offer value at the morning line price of 4-1 if dialed on high.
9-Taurasi (5-1)-There are any real standouts in this match and the pace should be quick. If Todd McCarthy is within reach of the leaders around the last turn, no one in this field can close faster.

Race 5

1-Winmeback (3-1)-Gallucci pupil has been on fire since starting Lasix 3 races back. Has won 3 in a row and last week's score on the 5/8's at RidC may have been his best effort this year. Steps-up and should be tested but my guess is we haven't seen his best.
2-Better B Bold (7/2)-Beaten chalk at RidC is back working at his favorite track where he does well (6-3-2-0). The faster they go the better for the Steacy trainee and should be rolling down the lane looking for the 3rd straight win at Wbsb.
3-Midnight Nation (6-1)-Similar to the one above in being a dangerous closer. If the 5-6-7 leave off the gate, this race could set-up nicely for the Moreau entry.

Race 6

2-Its A Love Thing (5-1)-Had trouble last time, lost significant ground by drifting out down the lane and lost by only a half- length. Could offer a square price and will take a swing JMac can keep him in a straight line to the wire.
7-Elodie Hanover (7/2)-Has been around the money in all 4 starts and posted 2 wins at Mohawk. David Miller takes a seat for the first time and that shouldn't hurt. Will look for an aggressive steer and to be racing near the top of the stack.
8-Caviart Belle (6/5)-Won at Philly and at M1 in 150 and a piece. Looks the part of a 6/5 chalk and is going for 3 straight pictures. But the post could make this a challenge, has never raced at Mohawk and will be a tiny price.

Race 7

5-Drawn Impression (7/5)-Muscle Hill filly came out of the box with 2 very impressive wins. The Blais pupil draws well and appears to be a clean trip away from a hat trick to start her career.

0.20 Early Pick 4

1,2,7,9/1,2,3/2,7,8/5
Total Bet=$7.20

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-26-2023, 07:51 AM

Jon White: Travers Stakes Selections

August 23, 2023 | By Jon White
Many Thoroughbred racing enthusiasts are looking forward to the Travers Stakes, which will be run for the 154th time this Saturday (Aug. 26) at historic Saratoga Race Course.

The 7-5 favorite on David Aragona’s morning line is last year’s Eclipse Award-winning 2-year-old male, Forte, who is coming off a narrow victory in Saratoga’s Grade II Jim Dandy Stakes for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.

Seven 3-year-olds are entered in the Grade I, $1.25 million Travers, which will be contested at 1 1/4 miles on the main track. From the rail out, the field consists of Forte, Arcangelo (5-2 on the morning line), Tapit Trice (12-1), Mage (4-1), National Treasure (8-1), Disarm (8-1) and Scotland (12-1).

For the first time since 2017, a different winner of the three Triple Crown events will clash in the Travers -- Mage from the Kentucky Derby, National Treasure from the Preakness Stakes and Arcangelo from the Belmont Stakes.

The three different Triple Crown race winners to compete in the Travers in 2017 were Always Dreaming from the Kentucky Derby, Cloud Computing from the Preakness and Taprit from the Belmont.

West Coast, who did not run in any of the Triple Crown races, won the 2017 Travers for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. In my Travers selections for Xpressbet.com, West Coast was my top pick. He paid $14.20 for each $2 win wager. Taprit finished fourth, Cloud Computing eighth and Always Dreaming ninth in the field of 12.

Three different winners of the Triple Crown races also met in the 1982 Travers. That trio consisted of Gato Del Sol from the Kentucky Derby, Aloma’s Ruler from the Preakness and Belmont winner Conquistador Cielo.

As was the case in 2017, the winner of the 1982 Travers, Runaway Groom, did not participate in any of the Triple Crown races. Runaway Groom returned $27.80 for each $2 win ticket. Aloma’s Ruler finished second. Conquistador Cielo ran third as the 2-5 favorite. Gato Del Sol wound up fifth.

Despite Conquistador Cielo’s defeat in the Travers, he was voted 1982 Horse of the Year, an award stemming primarily from his victories in the Grade I Met Mile against older horses on May 31 and Grade I Belmont Stakes just five days later.

There has been only one other time in which a different winner of the three Triple Crown races competed in the Travers. In 1918, Sun Briar, who did not start in any of the Triple Crown races, captured the Travers that year while defeating Kentucky Derby winner Exterminator, Preakness winner War Cloud and Belmont winner Johren.

In the 1918 Travers, Johren finished second, War Cloud third and Exterminator fourth. One of the greatest geldings of all time, Exterminator amazingly won 50 of 100 lifetime starts during his racing career.

It is interesting that all three times that a different winner in each of the three Triple Crown race ran in the Travers, none of them won, with the winner being a horse who had not run in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness or Belmont. Will that happen again this year? I hope not. My top pick in this year’s Travers did win one of the Triple Crown events. I am going with Arcangelo.

Below are my Travers Stakes selections:

1. Arcangelo
2. Forte
3. Mage
4. Disarm

I am attempting to make it three straight winning top picks in the Travers.

My top pick for Xpressbet.com in the 2022 Travers was Epicenter, who prevailed by 5 1/4 lengths as the even-money favorite.

In 2021, my top pick was Essential Quality, who won by a neck as the 2-5 favorite.

In my 2020 Travers selections for Xpressbet.com, I foolishly tried to beat odds-on favorite Tiz the Law with 5-2 Uncle Chuck. Tiz the Law trounced his foes, winning by 5 1/2 lengths. Uncle Chuck led through the early furlongs before faltering to finish sixth in the field of seven.

Will Forte do to me in this year’s Travers what Tiz the Law did in 2020? I wouldn’t put it past Forte.

When I recently tried to beat Forte in the Jim Dandy with Saudi Crown, Forte won that 1 1/8-mile race as the 3-5 favorite. Front-running Saudi Crown lost by a nose at odds of 7-2.

Considering Forte beat me in the Jim Dandy, why am I going against him again in the Travers? I have five main reasons that my choice to win the Travers is Arcangelo.

Reason No. 1: Unlike Saudi Crown, Arcangelo already has defeated Forte. When Arcangelo won the 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes on June 10, Forte was the runner-up.

Granted, Forte actually did quite well to finish second in the Belmont despite a 10-week layoff and a wide trip. Admittedly, it did help Arcangelo that he received a marvelous ride by Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, who saved ground when rallying on the far turn, while Forte was racing wide. But I was impressed by the way Arcangelo burst away from the pack in upper stretch to open a 3 1/2-length lead with a furlong to go.

Reason No. 2: I see Arcangelo as an improving 3-year-old who just might be blossoming into a real star. We might not have seen the best from him yet. Talk about Beyer Speed Figures on the rise. Check out Arcangelo’s pattern in his five career starts so far: 53, 70, 84, 97 and 102.

Reason No. 3: Castellano won his first Kentucky Derby on Mage and first Belmont Stakes aboard Arcangelo. Castellano is riding Arcangelo, not Mage, in the Travers.

Castellano has an excellent record in the Travers, having ridden a record six winners: Bernardini (2006), Afleet Express (2010), Stay Thirsty (2011), V.E. Day (2014), Keen Ice (2015) and Catholic Boy (2018).

Reason No. 4: Arcangelo seems to have trained extremely well since the Belmont. His a.m. activity has drawn rave reviews. This is another indication to me that there might be further improvement with him. The Kentucky-bred gray ridgling has been giving every indication that he might be sitting on a dynamite performance in the Travers.

I admit that I’m a bit concerned that Arcangelo is going into the Travers off an 11-week layoff. Daily Racing Form’s David Grening has pointed out that no horse has won both the Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes without a race in between since Birdstone in 2004.

But one of the reasons I’m willing to go ahead and make Arcangelo my top pick in the Travers despite the layoff is the way he seemingly has trained so splendidly up to this race.

Reason No. 5: Arcangelo is by a Travers winner. His sire, Arrogate, won this race in spectacular fashion for Baffert in 2016. In my Xpressbet.com recap of that Travers, I described Arrogate’s performance as being Secretariat-like.

Arrogate drew off in the stretch and crushed his Travers rivals to win by 13 1/5 lengths. Just this week, in a Daily Racing Form article written by David Grening, Baffert was quoted as saying that Arrogate “was phenomenal that day.”

In my Travers recap for Xpressbet.com, I noted a number of ways that a case could be made that Arrogate’s Travers performance actually was better than Secretariat’s when he won the 1973 Kentucky Derby by 2 1/2 lengths at the same 1 1/4-mile distance.

Arrogate’s final time of 1:59 1/5 in the Travers was one-fifth of a second faster than Secretariat’s in the Derby.

Secretariat broke a track record that had stood for nine years. Arrogate broke a track record that had stood for 37 years.

Arrogate was making his stakes debut in the Travers, with just four previous career starts under his belt. Secretariat was much more experienced going into the Kentucky Derby. Prior to the Derby, Secretariat had made 12 career starts, nine in stakes races.

What also made Arrogate’s Travers better than Secretariat’s Derby, in my opinion, was the fact that Arrogate did the heavy lifting early by setting a fast pace en route to his track record. In other words, Arrogate ran hard from start to finish.

By contrast, in Secretariat’s Kentucky Derby, Shecky Greene was the one who ran fast early. Far back early, Secretariat continually ran faster and faster through each stage of the race. The brisk pace set by Shecky Greene set the table for Secretariat’s compelling stretch run. Shecky Greene would go on to be voted the Eclipse Award as champion sprinter that year.

In the Derby, Secretariat ran his final quarter-mile in :23 and change. So did Arrogate in the Travers. It was especially remarkable that Arrogate could come home as strongly as he did after setting an even faster pace than Shecky Greene did in the Kentucky Derby.

Shecky Greene posted early fractional times in the Derby of :23 2/5, :47 2/5 and 1:11 4/5.

Arrogate clicked off early fractions in the Travers of :23 1/5, :46 4/5 and 1:10 4/5.

What kind of a toll did Shecky Greene’s early efforts in the Derby take on him? He faltered and finished 16 lengths behind Secretariat.

Even though Arrogate ran faster early in the Travers than Shecky Greene in the Derby, Arrogate still was able to run his final quarter in the Travers in a terrific :23 4/5.

In the book “Secretariat: The Making of a Champion,” William Nack noted that “Secretariat raced every quarter-mile in the Kentucky Derby faster than the preceding quarter. His final [individual] splits were :25 1/5, :24 flat, :23 4/5, :23 2/5, and :23 flat. No one could remember when a horse had done that over a distance of a mile and a quarter. Secretariat literally went faster and faster from start to finish.”

Arrogate? As noted earlier, he ran fast from start to finish in the Travers. His final individual splits were :23 1/5, :23 3/5, :24 flat, :24 3/5, and :23 4/5.

Getting back to this Saturday’s Travers, I have the utmost respect for Forte, as I should. After all, the Kentucky-bred Violence colt has won seven of nine lifetime starts and finished worse than second just once.

What about Mage?

When Mage rallied from 16th to win the Kentucky Derby, he impressed me so much that I loved him in the May 20 Preakness. But he let me down in Baltimore. Mage made a move to loom menacingly at the top of the stretch, then lacked the needed further response during the stretch run. He came home evenly and finished third to National Treasure and Blazing Sevens.

Mage then didn’t race again until the Grade I Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park on July 22, his first start in nine weeks. His connections set expectations low in the Haskell. They indicated that Mage was running in the Haskell principally as a bridge to the Travers.

In the Haskell, Mage rallied to loom a bold threat at the top of the lane, similar to the Preakness. And like the Preakness, Mage lacked the needed further response during the stretch run in the Haskell, this time having to settle for second behind Southern California shipper Geaux Rocket Ride.

Maybe the Travers will be different for Mage than the Preakness and Haskell. Maybe this time he will have the needed late kick, a la the Kentucky Derby. We shall see.

Disarm never really threatened on a sloppy track in the Jim Dandy. He finished fourth at 9-2. I thought he would do much better on that occasion.

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen is adding blinkers to Disarm’s equipment for the Travers.

“We need to add more,” Asmussen said this week when explaining the decision to put blinkers on Disarm. “We aren’t satisfied with the results of his last race. I think he’s capable of more. This is our first step in trying to pull it out of him.”

The word is Disarm has been training like a beast for the Travers.

In my eyes National Treasure happened to be the right horse at the right time to win one of the weaker Preaknesses in recent years. He was permitted to set a moderate pace, yet only barely won. National Treasure subsequently finished sixth in the Belmont.

National Treasure, trained by Baffert, hasn’t started since the Belmont. Look, Baffert is a huge plus for any horse in any big race. But I find it hard to picture National Treasure winning the Travers. With Scotland in the field, I don’t expect National Treasure to get away with being left alone on the front early in the Travers, as was the case in the Preakness.

Scotland is a likely pace factor in the Travers. The Kentucky-bred Good Magic colt is stepping up in class to make his graded stakes debut this Saturday after winning Saratoga’s 1 1/8-mile ungraded Curlin Stakes last time out on July 21.

Despite the class hike, I do consider Scotland to be a very dangerous Travers entrant. He has the look of an up-and-comer for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, who is having a big year. Scottland’s Curlin victory was flattered when the runner-up in that race, Il Miracolo, won the Grade III Smarty Jones Stakes at Parx on Tuesday (Aug. 22).

Tapit Trice, another Pletcher trainee, is adding blinkers in an attempt to get him to improve on his last three races. After winning the Grade I Blue Grass Stakes in April, the Kentucky-bred Tapit colt has finished seventh in the Kentucky Derby, third in the Belmont and fifth in the Haskell.

TRAVERS BEYERS BY THE WINNER

What kind of Beyer Speed Figure will it take to win this year’s Travers? Probably something lower -- perhaps much lower -- than the 112 that Epicenter received when he won last year’s renewal.

It might not even take a Beyer as high as the figures recorded in the Travers by 2021 winner Essential Quality, a 107, or 2020 winner Tiz the Law, a 109.

I think all it might take to win this year’s Travers will be something similar to the 105 Beyer when Code of Honor won this race in 2019 or the 104 Beyer when Catholic Boy was victorious in 2018.

Forte and Mage go into this year’s Travers boasting the highest Beyer Speed Figure of a 105. Forte received a 105 Beyer in the Jim Dandy. Mage likewise recorded a 105 in the Kentucky Derby.

Disarm does go into the Travers having rattled off three consecutive triple-digit Beyers. He recorded a 100 when fourth in the Kentucky Derby, a 102 when he won Churchill Downs’ Grade III Matt Winn Stakes, then a 101 for his fourth in the Jim Dandy.

As mentioned early, while Arcangelo has not yet recorded a Beyer higher than a 102, his figures have steadily been climbing with each successive start.

Tapit Trice’s top Beyer to date was the 100 he received when third in the Belmont.

National Treasure and Scotland are the only two Travers entrants who have not yet recorded a triple-digit Beyer.

Below are Beyer Speed Figures for Travers winners going back to 1990 (the first year they were listed in the American Racing Manual):

2022 Epicenter (112)
2021 Essential Quality (107)
2020 Tiz the Law (109)
2019 Code of Honor (105)
2018 Catholic Boy (104)
2017 West Coast (108)
2016 Arrogate (122)
2015 Keen Ice (106)
2014 V.E. Day (102)
2013 Will Take Charge (107)
2012 Alpha (100)*
2012 Golden Ticket (100)*
2011 Stay Thirsty (101)
2010 Afleet Express (105)
2009 Summer Bird (110)
2008 Colonel John (106)
2007 Street Sense (108)
2006 Bernardini (116)
2005 Flower Alley (110)
2004 Birdstone (108)
2003 Ten Most Wanted (112)
2002 Medaglia d’Oro (113)
2001 Point Given (117)
2000 Unshaded (109)
1999 Lemon Drop Kid (110)
1998 Coronado’s Quest (107)
1997 Deputy Commander (110)
1996 Will’s Way (114)
1995 Thunder Gulch (110)
1994 Holy Bull (115)
1993 Sea Hero (109)
1992 Thunder Rumble (109)
1991 Corporate Report (109)
1990 Rhythm (104)

*Dead heat

EQUIPMENT FAILURE AT HAWTHORNE

If you have a Twitter -- oops, I mean an X -- account, you are urged to check out Jim Miller’s message (@HawthorneJim) that says: “You want pure athleticism, this is it right here! Watch as jockey Abel Lezcano has his right stirrup break in the first turn of race 3 and somehow he manages to avert disaster and stay aboard. Pure strength and grit there!”

Lezcano was riding Christmas Present in this Hawthorne contest for $6,250 claimers at one mile and 70 yards last Sunday (Aug. 20).

“Abel Lezcano put on an incredible display of courage and athleticism at Hawthorne Race Course near Chicago on Sunday, holding on for dear life after his right stirrup broke while he was battling for the lead in the third race aboard the 5-year-old gelding Christmas Present,” the Paulick Report wrote.

The video replay of the race shows Christmas Present broke alertly and led the field in the run to the clubhouse turn. Christmas Present then was vying for the lead while racing inside Blooming Garden when, approaching the backstretch, Lezcano seemingly disappeared from the saddle. That threw track announcer Peter Galassi for a loop.

“As they turn onto the backstretch, less than six and a half furlongs to go, and Blooming Garden from on the outside…” But before Galassi finished the sentence to say that Blooming Garden was in front at that point, he noticed that Christmas Present’s rider suddenly had disappeared. After a brief pause to try and figure out what in the heck was going on, Galassi said, “The No. 1 [Christmas Present], the rider is out of the saddle, but he’s still with the horse. Now he’s trying to get back into the saddle. A little confusing there. Didn’t see him. Thought he was off, but he was on. Now he’s back in the saddle. Just a tremendous job by Abel Lezcano to say on that horse.”

That also was a tremendous job of announcing by Galassi when having to deal with a major curve ball thrown at him during the running of the race.

With both of Lezcano’s feet dangling on the far turn, Christmas Present steadily dropped back to last and eventually was corralled in deep stretch by an outrider.

According to the Paulick Report, Lezcano said he heard a loud snap on the first turn and suddenly his right foot was without a stirrup. Lezcano said that he had just purchased the equipment. The stirrup, Lezcano said, was made from a carbon material.

“Rarely does a race go to plan, but even less frequently does a stirrup break, and the jockey can make a superhuman effort and get back into the tack after clinging to the horse’s neck for a furlong,” BloodHorse’s Lauren Gash wrote.

“My plan from the start of the race was to get out in front,” Lezcano told BloodHorse’s Gash. “That was the plan, and in the first turn, I felt my foot going down. I was in shock; the stirrups were new, so I didn’t understand how or why it was breaking.

“I started falling and knew I had only three options. If I let go of the horse and fall, it will go on without me, but it could hurt the other jockeys and horses behind me. Possibly the horse could get hurt if I let go; he could fall while he was loose. The second option was that if I fell with the horse, it could be bad for me and the horse. The third option was to hold on for dear life and pray that God would give me the strength to pull myself back on.”

Lezcano added that he has been working hard to “being strong again” ever since he had a kidney transplant two years ago.

On Sunday night, Lezcano posted the following message on the social media site formerly known as Twitter: “Thank God I’m only sore but glad I didn’t fall or hurt anybody. By the grace of the lord I’m here and will continue working hard.”

Christmas Present’s trainer, Brian Cook, was in shock at what he had just seen.

Cook “was pale white when I saw his face on the racetrack,” Lezcano said. “He said he has to go to church after witnessing what just happened; it was unbelievable. He was thankful because I saved the horse from getting lose or possibly hurt.”

Steve Byk put it well Monday on his Sirius XM radio program At the Races when he described Lezcano’s actions as “gymnastics” on Christmas Present.

Former jockey Richard Migliore, who rode 4,450 winners and now is a broadcaster for Fox Sports, also talked about Lezcano’s stirrup incident on Byk’s show Monday.

“It was incredible, just incredible,” Migliore said. “If anybody ever doubted a jockey’s strength, athleticism, tenacity -- it’s all there on display in one video.”

Migliore said people don’t realize how hard it is for a rider to pull himself or herself back into the saddle, like Lezcano did. Migliore believes that the horse also deserves props.

The horse “didn’t deviate from his path, he didn’t duck, he didn’t dodge,” Migliore said. “And I’m sure he had to be off balance, too, because Lezcano was off to one side of him. And the horse stayed the course in an amazing athletic feat, too.”

Migliore noted that what Lezcano did to get back in the saddle was “partly motivated by fear. You don’t want to hit the ground there, especially with all those horses bunched up behind you. My hat’s off to him…All the while you’re going 35 miles an hour. It was unbelievable he didn’t come off immediately. But then for him to be in that position, just the sheer strength and will to put himself back in the middle [of the saddle], it really was as tough and strong an athletic feat as you’re ever going to see. And most people are never going to truly identify with it because how many people have ever been in that position?”

For some longtime Pacific Northwest racing fans, the incident Sunday involving Christmas Present and Lezcano brought to mind what occurred in the 1970 Longacres Mile. Jockey Larry Pierce is one person who certainly can identify with Lezcano’s plight on Sunday.

Pierce rode Turbulator in the 1970 Longacres Mile. Turbulator was sent away as the 6-5 favorite. He was coming off a victory in which he had lowered the world record for 6 1/2 furlongs by two-fifths of a second.

Leaving the starting gate in the Longacres Mile, Pierce’s left stirrup iron broke into several pieces. The broken stirrup meant Pierce had his left foot dangling for much of the race. His right foot also slipped out of the right stirrup for a time. Going into the backstretch, Pierce lost his balance and nearly fell off.

“I rolled over to the left side on his neck,” Pierce told me years later. “That scared me. But in a split second -- I don’t know whether it was fear or adrenalin -- I got back down in the saddle. I crawled my way back off his neck. As I came to the half-mile pole, I got my right foot back in the stirrup.”

Throughout the final three furlongs, while Pierce did not have a stirrup to put his left foot into, Turbulator found himself boxed in along the inner rail in the bulky 13-horse field. Turbulator still somehow managed to improve his position from 10th to fifth in the final quarter of a mile.

Christmas Present was pulled up by an outrider in deep stretch during his race Sunday. In Turbulator’s nightmarish Longacres Mile, he continued racing all the way to the finish and lost by only 2 1/2 lengths.

Just as Migliore said that it was an amazing display of athleticism by both Abel Lezcano and Christmas Present last Sunday at Hawthorne, the same could be said of Larry Pierce and Turbulator in the 1970 Longacres Mile.

Turbulator’s owner, breeder and trainer, Tom Crawford, watched that 1970 Longacres Mile from his box seat. When Crawford walked out onto the track after the race, he couldn’t believe what he had just seen as he watched Pierce flopping around on the horse and the horse being boxed in for the entire final three furlongs.

“What the hell were you doing out there?” Crawford snapped as Pierce dismounted.

Pierce simply pointed toward the horse and said three words: “My stirrup broke.”

When Pierce discussed the race with me years later, he shook his head and said, “You know, there were so many ifs.” Turbulator “wins easy if the stirrup doesn’t break, if my foot doesn’t slip out of the right stirrup, if I don’t almost fall off him, if we’re not trapped -- if, if, if. And he still only got beat two and a half lengths.”

All but one of the several pieces of the shattered stirrup were recovered by the starting gate crew and later given to Crawford for a keepsake. Crawford had the fragments framed and enclosed in glass to display in his home like a painting. When I interviewed Crawford’s widow, Marguerite Crawford, at her home in 2004 when writing an article for the Washington Thoroughbred magazine, I actually got to see those framed stirrup fragments. To be perfectly honest, to see those framed stirrup fragments meant more to me than when I saw the Mona Lisa at The Louvre in Paris in 1984.

DEL MAR LOST DAY OF RACING DUE TO TROPICAL STORM

The nine-race card at Del Mar last Sunday (Aug. 20) was canceled as the result of an extremely rare tropical storm that hit Southern California. It had been 84 years since Southern California experienced a tropical storm.

The Los Angeles Times reported that around 8:15 p.m. Sunday, the center of the storm was circulating directly over Dodger Stadium, according to Daniel Swain, a UCLA climate scientist.

The Dodgers had been scheduled to play a home game Sunday against the Miami Marlins. Instead of that Sunday game, the Dodgers and Marlins played a doubleheader Saturday. The Los Angeles Angels and Tampa Bay Rays likewise called off a Sunday game scheduled at Anaheim Stadium and instead played a doubleheader Saturday.

MUSIC INDUSTRY & RACING MOURNS DEATH OF JERRY MOSS

Jerry Moss, a giant in both the music industry and horse racing, died last Wednesday (Aug. 16) at his home in Bel Air, Calif. He was 88.

Moss was the “M” in A&M records, the record company he co-founded in 1962 with Herb Alpert. The label was home to such acts as Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass, Burt Bacharach, Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66, the Carpenters, Cat Stevens, Joe Cocker, the Police, Styx, Peter Frampton and Soundgarden.

When I once was doing a phone interview with Moss regarding one of his horses, I happened to mention to him that “The Lonely Bull” had been one of my favorite songs when I was a youngster.

“Oh, that’s wonderful,” Moss said. “Did you know that was the very first single we put out on the A&M label?”

“No, Mr. Moss, I didn’t know that,” I replied.

“That was an incredibly important song for us,” he said. “It really helped us get A&M off the ground.”

“The Lonely Bull,” by Herb Albert & the Tijuana Brass, was a hit. It peaked at No. 6 on Billboard’s Hot 100 on Dec. 8, 1962.

In the Los Angeles Times obituary, Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote: “A&M didn’t have another significant success until 1965, when Alpert embraced pop on ‘Whipped Cream & Other Delights,’ an album as famous for its provocative album cover depicting a model slathered in whipped cream as it was for its swinging rendition of ‘A Taste of Honey.’ ‘Whipped Cream & Other Delights’ started a remarkable streak of five No. 1 albums for Alpert, hits that turned the label into a powerhouse.”

In 1970, A&M signed a distribution deal with Ode Records, which was headed by Alpert’s one-time partner Lou Adler (who through the years has often been seen sitting next to actor Jack Nicholson at Lakers games).

The deal with Ode Records “hit pay dirt when Carole King’s ‘Tapestry’ became one of the biggest-selling albums of the 1970s,” Erlewine wrote.

The double album “Frampton Comes Alive!” also became a huge success for A&M in the 1970s.

“A&M’s biggest hits in the 1980s belonged to Sting, either on his own or with the Police, and Janet Jackson, whose ‘Control’ and ‘Rhythm Nation 1814’ albums changed the course of R&B music and elevated her to a level of stardom comparable to that of her brother Michael,” Erlewine wrote.

Within a decade of its inception, A&M became the world’s largest independent record company. In 1989, Moss and Alpert sold A&M to the Dutch company PolyGram for $500 million. They originally remained on as executives with A&M after the sale, but Moss and Alpert became sour on the arrangement and left the company in 1993. According to Erlewine, “the pair sued PolyGram in 1998, claiming a breach of the integrity clause; they would settle the case for $200 million.”

Born in the Bronx, N.Y., on May 8, 1935, Moss in the 1980s became a prominent Thoroughbred owner and breeder, first with former wife Ann and more recently with his wife Tina.

Among the many trainers for the Mosses were Hall of Famers Bobby Frankel, Richard Mandella and Charlie Whittingham. Brian Mayberry, John Sadler, John Shirreffs also conditioned horses for the Mosses.

While being trained by Whittingham, Ruhlmann ran one mile in 1:33 2/5 to set a track record when he won the Viking Spirit Stakes at Santa Anita in 1989 for the Mosses. Ruhlmann went on to win the Grade I Santa Anita Handicap in 1990.

Mayberry trained Sardula for the Mosses. In 1994, Sardula won the Grade I Kentucky Oaks. (That’s the only Kentucky Oaks that I’ve attended.)

“An art collector who owned pieces by Magritte, Picasso, Warhol and Basquiat, Moss cultivated many interests outside music. Chief among these was horse racing and breeding,” Erlewine wrote. “Named to the California Horse Racing Board in 2004, Moss owned Giacomo, a horse named after Sting’s son that won the 2005 Kentucky Derby.”

Sherriffs trained Giacomo, who won the Run for the Roses by a half-length for the Mosses in a 50-1 upset. (That victory by Giacomo cost yours truly more than $14,000. I had a $200 win wager on Closing Argument, who finished second at odds of 71-1.)

The Los Angeles Times obituary failed to mention the most important and famous Thoroughbred that Jerry and Ann Moss raced. That, of course, would be the great Zenyatta, trained by Sherriffs. Zenyatta won her first 19 consecutive starts, including a dramatic victory in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita in 2009.

The immensely popular Zenyatta, who was named for the Police album “Zenyatta Mondatta,” is the only female to have ever won the BC Classic. She returned for the 2010 renewal at Churchill Downs, a race she lost by a head when second to Blame. That would be the only defeat in Zenyatta’s extraordinary career.

Despite Zenyatta’s narrow loss in the BC Classic, she was voted 2010 Horse of the Year.

Zenyatta ranks No. 3, behind only No. 1 Flightline and No. 2 American Pharoah, on my list of the Top 100 Thoroughbreds of the 21st century so far to have won in North America. The others on the Top 10 are No. 4 Arrogate, No. 5 Ghostzapper, No. 6 Curlin, No. 7 Rachel Alexander, No. 8 Justify, No. 9 Shared Belief and No. 10 California Chrome.

Jerry Moss and Zenyatta are both Hall of Famers. Moss and Alpert were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 as nonperformers. Zenyatta was inducted into racing’s national Hall of Fame in 2016.

LONGINES BREEDERS’ CUP CLASSIC RANKINGS

Forte heads into the Travers ranked No. 1 in this week’s Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings.

Joining the Top 10 for the first time is Ushba Tesoro, who is No. 10 this week. He won this year’s Group I, $12 million Dubai World Cup on March 25.

The Breeders’ Cup will be held this year at Santa Anita on Nov. 3-4. The $6 million Classic will be on Nov. 4.

The Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings are determined by a panel of voters comprised of members of the Breeders’ Cup Racing/Secretaries Panel, international racing and sports media, plus racing analysts.

The rankings will be updated weekly through Oct. 10.

The Top 10 in this week’s rankings are below:

Rank Points Horse (First-Place Votes)

1. 307 Forte (18)
2. 257 White Abarrio (4)
3. 244 Geaux Rocket Ride (3)
4. 233 Mage (1)
5. 215 Arcangelo (2)
6. 121 Rattle N Roll (3)
7. 104 Defunded (1)
8. 77 Zandon
9. 73 Proxy
10. 46 Ushba Tesoro

TOP 10 IN THIS WEEK’S NTRA TOP THOROUGHBRED POLL

Below is the Top 10 in this week’s NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll:

Rank Points Horse (First-Place Votes)

1. 322 Elite Power (26)
2. 256 Cody’s Wish (6)
3. 230 Nest
4. 168 White Abarrio
5. 149 Up to the Mark
6. 140 Clairiere
7. 117 Forte (1)
8. 85 Casa Creed
9. 41 Goodnight Olive
9. 41 In Italian

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-26-2023, 07:52 AM

Brian W. Spencer's Daily Picks

Ellis Park - Race #5

#8 L. A. Woman	Not sure she's going to offer a super appealing price, but she's bred to be a classy one and goes first out for a team that's dangerous in basically any spot, any day. Get a look at her ahead of this.
#1 She's All Ellie	Think she's an interesting alternative with just that modest debut run under her belt, but she has some potential to move forward while getting on the main track and working with a bit more ground today. Think she should be on some of the tickets.
#4 Singsational	Probably some upside here after she wasn't away the best in that first career start, and the presence of a couple debuters from other big barns might help keep the price playable here.
Race Summary	L. A. Woman can probably be tough in here as an obvious player on connections and pedigree, and maybe it's She's All Ellie who is the one to potentially spice this one up by landing a piece...or more.

Ellis Park - Race #8

#6 Pat'schromecompass	She posted a $52 upset in the graduation run last time out, and I think she might get overlooked on the rise to try winners despite a potentially nice race shape waiting for her. Settles in behind the more committed pace players?
#5 High Class	She's a high-ceiling threat with these after turning in a really sharp score off the layoff against easier. She's right there against winners if that is her new baseline. Another riser with appeal.
#1 Alexa Lou	She moved up with the added ground in that second start, and she could conceivably move forward with some maturity in this first start since November. Quick enough to be in touch early.
Race Summary	Pat'schromecompass should be able to find a dreamy spying spot in here while tracking a few potentially quicker players, and there might still be some upside after just three starts.

Ellis Park - Race #9

#8 All Choked Up	Could see him having a go for it right up on the front end while stepping up to face winners, but he moved forward in a big way last time out while making his second start off a year and a half break. He obviously found a new home on the turf, and he doesn't seem impossible at a midrange price.
#1 Smokey Mandate	He has run a couple really good ones at Horseshoe Indianapolis while showing some versatility in his running style, and he makes a good bit of sense with these if he's able to hold that form.
#3 Sant' Antimo	There are some more logical players on paper here from Cox and Walsh to consider, but he moved up in a big way when trying turf and much softer company last out and might move forward again. For a piece at a price?
Race Summary	All Choked Up caught a tough winner off the long layoff back in May, and he followed it up with an easy win, and I think it's at least a mildly good sign that he shows up here for this one.

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-26-2023, 07:52 AM

Frank Carulli's Daily Picks

Gulfstream Park - Race #1

#5 SELF SUFFICIENT (5-2)	Pletcher firster worked well from the gate on ‘off’ track last Saturday.
#1 HOLIDAY PAY (7-2)	Joseph/Zayas duo is 22-for-65 in the last month with positive R.O.I..
#6 SAINT NO MORE (8-5)	Finished a clear second to odds-on winner after four month away.
Race Summary	SELF SUFFICIENT stepped it up a notch with a :48-3/5 gate work on a ‘good’ track in his final debut prep. His dam was a second-out MSW winner, but his sire has only produced two 2-year-old winners from 20 runners. Bet to win and place.

Gulfstream Park - Race #3

#4 PASAJERA (3-1)	On the improve, second to repeater in pair of July routes at this level.
#8 PARCHITA (8-5)	Takes the plunge off dull try, tries route, dam was solid allowance sprinter.
#2 KRABI (8-1)	Caught wide behind sloooow pace, desperately prevailed at 1-to-5, adds blinkers.
Race Summary	PASAJERA hooked repeat winner on turn but simply couldn’t get by her for second time in a row. She switches riders again, draws a better post and could have a short-priced favorite to run down. Bet to win and place.

Gulfstream Park - Race #4

#4 HOW SURPRISING (4-1)	Had overland trip, late burst for third, added ground a plus.
#5 MAGIC HOO (3-1)	Steady work tab; dam was 12-54, a debut and multiple graded stakes winner.
#7 BELTS ‘N BROOKS (8-1)	Plagued by trouble starts, draws farther outside, use in gimmicks.
Race Summary	HOW SURPRISING, hard ridden and 5-wide most of the way, still found more to surge late into photo-finish view. The extra furlong should suit him well in his second start after seven weeks away. Bet to win and place.

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-26-2023, 07:53 AM

F.A.S.T. Sheets Free Race for Belterra Park

PURCHASE

Belterra Park - Race 7	Exacta / 50 cent Trifecta / 10 cent Superfecta / Late Daily Double
SO $10,000 • 6 Furlongs • Dirt • Ages 3 and up • CR: 85 • Purse: $14,400 • Post: 3:10P
FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE STARTED FOR A CLAIMING PRICE OF $5,000 OR LESS IN 2022 - 2023 OR CLAIMING PRICE $10,000. THREE YEAR OLDS, 120 LBS.; OLDER, 124 LBS. NON-WINNERS OF TWO RACES SINCE JULY 26, 2023 ALLOWED 2 LBS. A RACE SINCE THEN ALLOWED 4 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $10,000 (CLAIMING RACES FOR $7,500 OR LESS NOT CONSIDERED IN ALLOWANCES) (OHIO REGISTERED FOALS PREFERRED).

Contenders				Race Analysis
P#	Horse	Morn Line	Accept Odds	Race Type: Dominant Front-runner. LIMIT UP is the Dominant Front-runner of the race. * KEY ANGLES * LIMIT UP: Horse has the highest TrackMaster Power Rating. Horse ranks in the top three in average Equibase Speed Figure at the distance/surface. Horse ranks in the top three in average Equibase Class Rating at the distance/surface. D'MONEY HONEY: Horse has run a Good Race within the last 30 days. Horse ranks in the top three in TrackMaster Power Rating. Horse has the highest average Equiba se Speed Figure at the distance/surface.
1	LIMIT UP	3/1	5/2
5	D'MONEY HONEY	9/5	7/1

P#	Horse (In Running Style Order)	Post	Morn Line	Running Style	Good Class	Good Speed	Early Figure	Finish Figure	Platinum Figure
1	LIMIT UP	1	3/1	Alternator/Front-runner	87	89	78.2	83.0	78.5
5	D'MONEY HONEY	5	9/5	Stalker	91	81	69.6	77.4	74.4
2	ZIP IT SCOTTY	2	4/1	Alternator/Stalker	89	79	52.4	77.2	70.7
3	SAY IT AIN'T SO	3	7/2	Trailer	86	78	66.8	76.6	70.1
4	BLACKSMITH STRONG	4	5/1	Alternator/Non-contender	77	71	63.2	65.4	55.9

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-26-2023, 07:53 AM

F.A.S.T. Sheets Free Race for CamareroPURCHASE

Camarero - Race 1	Exacta / Daily Double 1-2
Maiden Special • 6 1/2 Furlongs • Dirt • Ages 3 and up • CR: 36 • Purse: $11,500 • Post: 2:45P
FOR NATIVE MAIDENS, FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD. THREE YEAR OLDS, 117 LBS.; OLDER, 120 LBS. 2# A CLASFS. INFERIOR Y DEBTS ALLOWED 2 LBS.

Contenders				Race Analysis
P#	Horse	Morn Line	Accept Odds	Race Type: Dominant Front-runner. MI BENDICION is the Dominant Front-runner of the race. * KEY ANGLES * MI BENDICION: Horse has run a Good Race within the last 30 days. Horse ranks in the top three in TrackMaster Power Rating. Horse has the high est average Equibase Speed Figure at the distance/surface.
3	MI BENDICION	3/1	7/5

P#	Horse (In Running Style Order)	Post	Morn Line	Running Style	Good Class	Good Speed	Early Figure	Finish Figure	Platinum Figure
3	MI BENDICION	3	3/1	Front-runner	38	21	32.2	19.9	16.9
4	HABIAQUEDECIRLO	4	2/1	Alternator/Stalker	35	19	32.1	17.6	12.1
2	AMIGA DEL ALMA	2	5/1	Alternator/Non-contender	42	19	26.9	14.4	9.9
1	BELLA AZAFATA	1	7/2	Alternator/Non-contender	31	12	21.1	11.5	5.0

Unknown Running Style: SEFA'S SPIRIT (10/1) [Jockey: Rosario Keddwin - Trainer: Astacio Jonathan].

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-26-2023, 07:53 AM

Handicapped by The Walker Group at Del Mar

PURCHASE
Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.

Race 8 - Optional Claiming - 6.0f on the Dirt. Purse: $84000 Class Rating: 102

FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON $18,000 TWICE OTHER THAN MAIDEN, CLAIMING, OR STARTER OR STATE BRED OR WHICH HAVE NEVER WON THREE RACES OR CLAIMING PRICE $80,000. THREE YEAR OLDS, 121 LBS.; OLDER, 124 LBS. NON-WINNERS OF TWO RACES SINCE MAY 26 ALLOWED 2 LBS. A RACE SINCE THEN ALLOWED 4 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $80,000 (MAIDEN RACES AND CLAIMING RACES FOR $50,000 OR

RECOMMENDED CHOICES
	# 4 ARHAM 5/2
# 5 KINGDOM HEART 12/1
# 6 NABOKOV 12/1

ARHAM is my choice. Shows formidable Equibase speed figs on average overall when matched with the rest of this group of horses. Must be given a shot - I like the figures from the last contest. Is worth looking at and may be a bet - strong speed figures (101 average) at today's distance and surface lately. KINGDOM HEART - Trainer has solid win rate (23 percent) at this distance and surface. Looks formidable versus this group and will probably be one of the leaders. NABOKOV - Moger and Ayuso have won 17 percent of their races giving this racer a formidable chance.

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-26-2023, 07:53 AM

Handicapped by The Walker Group at Horseshoe Indianapolis

PURCHASE
Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.

Race 9 - Trial - 350y on the Dirt. Purse: $14000 Class Rating: 79

QUARTER HORSE 350Y, FOR REGISTERED QUARTER HORSES TWO YEARS OLD SOLD AS A YEARLING AT THE 2022 SPEED SALE OR AS A WEANLING AT THE 2021 SPEED SALE. PURSE $14,000. BY SUBSCRIPTION OF $250, DUE MAY 1 TO NOMINATE, AND AN ADDITIONAL $400 SUSTAINING PAYMENT DUE JUNE 1 AND AN ADDITIONAL SUSTAINING PAYMENT OF $600 DUE JULY 1. SUPPLEMENTARY NOMINATIONS MAY BE MADE BY AUGUST 1 FOR $1,900.

RECOMMENDED CHOICES
	# 3 TRIXS ARE FOR KIDS 3/5
# 7 MG PILOT BOY 4/1
# 8 UNCHALLENGED 20/1

TRIXS ARE FOR KIDS is the top wager in this race. Overall the Equibase speed figs of this equine look very good in this affair. This filly has been consistently running well in her latest outings. The speed figure of 86 from her most recent contest looks solid in here. MG PILOT BOY - Must be considered here if only for the respectable speed figure garnered in the last race. A solid 78 avg class fig may give this gelding a distinct class edge against this group of horses in this race. UNCHALLENGED - Has run solidly when moving a short race. Has to be carefully examined here on the basis of the figures in the speed department alone.

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-26-2023, 07:54 AM

Handicapped by The Turf Club Analysts

PURCHASE

FanDuel Horse Racing - Race #1 - Post: 7:30pm - Maiden Special - 6.0 furlongs on the Dirt. Purse: $22,000 Class Rating: 57

Rating:

#5 ITS MAMBO (ML=6/1)

ITS MAMBO - When a sprinter is back in a race less than 10 days after his last outing, it generally means he's fit.

Vulnerable Contenders: #1 WIN THE CUP (ML=6/5), #2 DIAMND CON SUERTE (ML=7/5), #4 RA'DOM (ML=8/1),

WIN THE CUP - This morning-line choice may be out of condition without any recent works. DIAMND CON SUERTE - I don't have a 'use' feeling about this vulnerable equine in this affair. RA'DOM - Don't think this vulnerable equine will make a winning move today. That last speed figure was quite unimpressive when compared with today's class rating.

STRAIGHT WAGERS:	#5 ITS MAMBO is going to be the play if we are getting 1/1 or better
EXACTA WAGERS:	Pass
TRIFECTA WAGERS:	Skip
SUPERFECTA WAGERS:	None

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-26-2023, 07:54 AM

Handicapped by The Turf Club Analysts

PURCHASE

Emerald Downs - Race #1 - Post: 5:05pm - Claiming - 8.0 furlongs on the Dirt. Purse: $8,500 Class Rating: 84

Rating:

#2 BARBARIAN (ML=9/2)
#1 IDIDNTSEETHATCOMIN (ML=9/5)

BARBARIAN - The jockey/conditioner tandem of Amador and Perez has a strong return on investment together. IDIDNTSEETHATCOMIN - This thoroughbred coming off a sharp effort in the last thirty days is a solid contender in my book. I like the way this gelding's finish positions have gotten better with each start recently. A sign of a thoroughbred coming into top form. This animal has increased his Equibase speed figures in each of the last 2 races. That kind of progress is worth taking note of.

Vulnerable Contenders: #3 TWO PRINCES (ML=5/2), #4 RIVER ROSE (ML=7/2),

TWO PRINCES - This gelding earned a fig in his last event which likely isn't good enough in today's event. This gelding ran his best speed rating in some time on the dirt in a route contest. There may be a bounce today. RIVER ROSE - This gelding recorded a fig in his last contest which probably isn't good enough today.

STRAIGHT WAGERS:	Bet on #2 BARBARIAN to win if you can get at least 8/5 odds
EXACTA WAGERS:	Box [1,2]
TRIFECTA WAGERS:	Skip
SUPERFECTA WAGERS:	Pass

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-26-2023, 07:59 AM

Del Mar Tip Sheet - August 26

Aug. 25, 2023

Historically our BEST BETS have finished in the money 65% of the time at this track.

RACE #1 $20,000 MAIDEN CLAIMING 5 1/2 FURLONGS ON THE DIRT - POST TIME: 5:00 PM ET

PICK ORDER	M/L	P#	HORSE NAME	JOCKEY

WIN	5-2	3	Fordy G	E A Maldonado
PLACE	4-1	2	South Coast Route	A Escobedo
SHOW	9-5	7	Brazen Bull	R A Vazquez
WILD CARD	3-1	1	Cupids Crusader	G Franco

ALTERNATE 1	15-1	5	Missing Them	M Gutierrez
ALTERNATE 2	30-1	4	Rocky Champs	J Couton

* EXACTA: 3-2 BOX, 2-7 BOX, 7-1 BOX
* TRIFECTA: 2/3/7 BOX, 1/2/7 BOX

RACE #2 $43,000 STARTER ALLOWANCE 5 FURLONGS ON THE TURF - POST TIME: 5:29 PM ET
BEST BET: #5 CASTLEKNOCK

PICK ORDER	M/L	P#	HORSE NAME	JOCKEY

WIN	2-1	5	Castleknock	J J Hernandez
PLACE	4-1	1	Mr. Disrespectful	A Aguilar
SHOW	5-2	8	Devil Moon	R Gutierrez
WILD CARD	4-1	3	Rolling On	R A Vazquez

ALTERNATE 1	5-1	6	Belmont Bill	D A Herrera
ALTERNATE 2	8-1	2	Awesome Rhythm	T J Pereira

* EXACTA: 5-1 BOX, 1-8 BOX, 8-3 BOX
* TRIFECTA: 1/5/8 BOX, 1/3/8 BOX

RACE #3 $20,000 CLAIMING 6 1/2 FURLONGS ON THE DIRT - POST TIME: 6:03 PM ET

PICK ORDER	M/L	P#	HORSE NAME	JOCKEY

WIN	3-1	2	Slam Diego	T J Pereira
PLACE	5-2	8	Pequena Tormenta	H I Berrios
SHOW	15-1	4	Back On the Street	M E Smith
WILD CARD	5-1	3	Everlys Girl	G Franco

ALTERNATE 1	8-1	6	Awesome Taylor	J Torrealba
ALTERNATE 2	8-1	1	Soul of a Warrior	M Gutierrez

* EXACTA: 2-8 BOX, 8-4 BOX, 4-3 BOX
* TRIFECTA: 2/4/8 BOX, 3/4/8 BOX

RACE #4 $82,000 MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT 1 MILE ON THE DIRT - POST TIME: 6:34 PM ET

PICK ORDER	M/L	P#	HORSE NAME	JOCKEY

WIN	8-5	5	Mirahmadi	J J Hernandez
PLACE	15-1	6	Bigredsandribeyes	R Gutierrez
SHOW	5-1	4	Flight Way	A Fresu
WILD CARD	5-1	3	Point Dume	H I Berrios

ALTERNATE 1	4-1	1	Miracle Mark	D A Herrera
ALTERNATE 2	4-1	7	Sense	M E Smith

* EXACTA: 5-6 BOX, 6-4 BOX, 4-3 BOX
* TRIFECTA: 4/5/6 BOX, 3/4/6 BOX

RACE #5 $84,000 ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING 1 MILE ON THE TURF - POST TIME: 7:06 PM ET

PICK ORDER	M/L	P#	HORSE NAME	JOCKEY

WIN	3-1	1	Kitty Kitana	J Bravo
PLACE	6-1	5	Gracelund Gray	H I Berrios
SHOW	5-2	6	Freedom Lass	A Fresu
WILD CARD	3-1	4	Arina	J J Hernandez

ALTERNATE 1	8-1	8	Pride of the Nile	R Gutierrez
ALTERNATE 2	12-1	3	Bella D	A Aguilar

* EXACTA: 1-5 BOX, 5-6 BOX, 6-4 BOX
* TRIFECTA: 1/5/6 BOX, 4/5/6 BOX

RACE #6 $35,000 CLAIMING 6 FURLONGS ON THE DIRT - POST TIME: 7:35 PM ET
BEST BET: #2 COLT FICTION

PICK ORDER	M/L	P#	HORSE NAME	JOCKEY

WIN	7-2	2	Colt Fiction	E A Maldonado
PLACE	4-1	6	Positivity	A Fresu
SHOW	8-1	9	Cyberviking	M Gutierrez
WILD CARD	3-1	5	My Man Bags	A Aguilar

ALTERNATE 1	15-1	8	Tiger Dad	D A Herrera
ALTERNATE 2	15-1	10	Quick Finish	T J Pereira

* EXACTA: 2-6 BOX, 6-9 BOX, 9-5 BOX
* TRIFECTA: 2/6/9 BOX, 5/6/9 BOX

RACE #7 $82,000 MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT 5 FURLONGS ON THE TURF - POST TIME: 8:04 PM ET

PICK ORDER	M/L	P#	HORSE NAME	JOCKEY

WIN	3-1	5	Quintecents	R A Vazquez
PLACE	5-1	13	Grand Tiger	J Valdivia Jr.
SHOW	5-2	1	Uncle Reg	J J Hernandez
WILD CARD	6-1	11	Harrys Onthefly	E A Maldonado

ALTERNATE 1	6-1	8	Collect Dis Money	R Gutierrez
ALTERNATE 2	12-1	4	Living Life	J Bravo

* EXACTA: 5-13 BOX, 13-1 BOX, 1-11 BOX
* TRIFECTA: 1/5/13 BOX, 1/11/13 BOX

RACE #8 $84,000 ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING 6 FURLONGS ON THE DIRT - POST TIME: 8:33 PM ET
BEST BET: #4 ARHAM

PICK ORDER	M/L	P#	HORSE NAME	JOCKEY

WIN	5-2	4	Arham	H I Berrios
PLACE	6-1	8	Good With People	R Gutierrez
SHOW	5-1	1	Desmond Doss	J J Hernandez
WILD CARD	3-1	3	Howbeit	A Fresu

ALTERNATE 1	5-1	7	Principe Carlo	R A Vazquez
ALTERNATE 2	6-1	2	Escape Route	D A Herrera

* EXACTA: 4-8 BOX, 8-1 BOX, 1-3 BOX
* TRIFECTA: 1/4/8 BOX, 1/3/8 BOX

RACE #9 $83,000 ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING 1 1/16 MILES ON THE TURF - POST TIME: 9:02 PM ET

PICK ORDER	M/L	P#	HORSE NAME	JOCKEY

WIN	6-1	7	Shocking Grey	D A Herrera
PLACE	20-1	6	Ankyrah	H I Berrios
SHOW	6-1	2	Lindas Gift	T J Pereira
WILD CARD	3-1	4	Yerwanthere	A Fresu

ALTERNATE 1	8-1	5	Gimme Mo Baby	J Valdivia Jr.
ALTERNATE 2	4-1	3	Musical Rhapsody	R Gutierrez

* EXACTA: 7-6 BOX, 6-2 BOX, 2-4 BOX
* TRIFECTA: 2/6/7 BOX, 2/4/6 BOX

RACE #10 $250,000 STAKES 7 FURLONGS ON THE DIRT - POST TIME: 9:31 PM ET

PICK ORDER	M/L	P#	HORSE NAME	JOCKEY

WIN	5-1	4	Sir Atticus	M E Smith
PLACE	5-1	6	Brickyard Ride	J J Hernandez
SHOW	7-2	9	Anarchist	R A Vazquez
WILD CARD	5-1	1	Moose Mitchell	M Gutierrez

ALTERNATE 1	8-1	5	C Z Rocket	G Franco
ALTERNATE 2	4-1	7	Spirit of Makena	J Bravo

* EXACTA: 4-6 BOX, 6-9 BOX, 9-1 BOX
* TRIFECTA: 4/6/9 BOX, 1/6/9 BOX

RACE #11 $50,000 MAIDEN CLAIMING 1 MILE ON THE TURF - POST TIME: 10:00 PM ET

PICK ORDER	M/L	P#	HORSE NAME	JOCKEY

WIN	5-2	9	Crypto Man	J Valdivia Jr.
PLACE	5-1	5	Admiral Halsey	R A Vazquez
SHOW	6-1	3	St Ignacio	K J Desormeaux
WILD CARD	4-1	8	Russells Hustle	M Gutierrez

ALTERNATE 1	6-1	1	Rahm	A Fresu
ALTERNATE 2	15-1	7	Gaelic Nation	R Gutierrez

* EXACTA: 9-5 BOX, 5-3 BOX, 3-8 BOX
* TRIFECTA: 3/5/9 BOX, 3/5/8 BOX

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-26-2023, 08:00 AM

Ellis Park Tip Sheet - August 26

Aug. 25, 2023

Historically our BEST BETS have finished in the money 65% of the time at this track

RACE #1 $16,000 MAIDEN CLAIMING 5 1/2 FURLONGS ON THE TURF - POST TIME: 2:22 PM ET

PICK ORDER	M/L	P#	HORSE NAME	JOCKEY

WIN	5-2	7	The Princess Says	F Arrieta
PLACE	5-1	2	Get By	M Chuan
SHOW	3-1	6	Ratified	G Corrales
WILD CARD	12-1	4	Mrs. Speaker	C Landeros

ALTERNATE 1	2-1	3	Mended We Stand	M Garcia
ALTERNATE 2	20-1	1	Midnight Xo	R Miranda

* EXACTA: 7-2 BOX, 2-6 BOX, 6-4 BOX
* TRIFECTA: 2/6/7 BOX, 2/4/6 BOX

RACE #2 $70,000 MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT 6 FURLONGS ON THE DIRT - POST TIME: 3:25 PM ET

PICK ORDER	M/L	P#	HORSE NAME	JOCKEY

WIN	2-1	1	Musical Diva	G Corrales
PLACE	4-1	4	Regal Rumor	M Michel
SHOW	9-2	8	Wampus Kitten	F Arrieta
WILD CARD	10-1	9	Lookster	M Garcia

ALTERNATE 1	6-1	3	Makeup	C A Torres
ALTERNATE 2	12-1	7	Novara	J Talamo

* EXACTA: 1-4 BOX, 4-8 BOX, 8-9 BOX
* TRIFECTA: 1/4/8 BOX, 4/8/9 BOX

RACE #3 $37,000 STARTER ALLOWANCE 6 FURLONGS ON THE DIRT - POST TIME: 5:07 PM ET
BEST BET: #3 SINNERS SIN

PICK ORDER	M/L	P#	HORSE NAME	JOCKEY

WIN	9-5	3	Sinners Sin	G Corrales
PLACE	5-2	2	Midaswellrun	M Michel
SHOW	9-2	1	Captain Jack	B J Hernandez Jr.
WILD CARD	6-1	4	Supremely	M Murrill

ALTERNATE 1	6-1	5	Stand for Freedom	C Landeros
ALTERNATE 2	8-1	7	Bolt Above	F Arrieta

* EXACTA: 3-2 BOX, 2-1 BOX, 1-4 BOX
* TRIFECTA: 1/2/3 BOX, 1/2/4 BOX

RACE #4 $10,000 CLAIMING 5 1/2 FURLONGS ON THE TURF - POST TIME: 2:22 PM ET
BEST BET: #1 IAN GLASS

PICK ORDER	M/L	P#	HORSE NAME	JOCKEY

WIN	9-5	1	Ian Glass	C A Torres
PLACE	8-1	6	Jura	T Heard
SHOW	5-2	5	Lookin for Loki	M Murrill
WILD CARD	5-1	3	Ready to Roll	G Saez

ALTERNATE 1	6-1	8	One Last Hand	F Arrieta
ALTERNATE 2	12-1	2	Merlins Song	G Corrales

* EXACTA: 1-6 BOX, 6-5 BOX, 5-3 BOX
* TRIFECTA: 1/5/6 BOX, 3/5/6 BOX

RACE #5 $70,000 MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT 1 MILE ON THE DIRT - POST TIME: 2:53 PM ET

PICK ORDER	M/L	P#	HORSE NAME	JOCKEY

WIN	12-1	2	Peignoir	L Machado
PLACE	3-1	8	L. A. Woman	G Corrales
SHOW	5-1	4	Singsational	K J Asmussen
WILD CARD	7-2	7	Audiobook	C A Torres

ALTERNATE 1	8-1	6	Umeboshi	A Achard
ALTERNATE 2	6-1	10	Pula	M Garcia

* EXACTA: 2-8 BOX, 8-4 BOX, 4-7 BOX
* TRIFECTA: 2/4/8 BOX, 4/7/8 BOX

RACE #6 $16,000 MAIDEN CLAIMING 1 1/16 MILES ON THE TURF - POST TIME: 3:25 PM ET
BEST BET: #7 LITTLE GIA

PICK ORDER	M/L	P#	HORSE NAME	JOCKEY

WIN	5-1	7	Little Gia	C A Torres
PLACE	15-1	5	Keen Contender	E Morales
SHOW	5-1	9	Storm Haven	C J Lanerie
WILD CARD	12-1	4	Kings Mistress	F Peterson

ALTERNATE 1	5-2	8	Shes Magic	C Landeros
ALTERNATE 2	3-1	6	Birdie Rose	M Michel

* EXACTA: 7-5 BOX, 5-9 BOX, 9-4 BOX
* TRIFECTA: 5/7/9 BOX, 4/5/9 BOX

RACE #7 $70,000 MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT 1 MILE ON THE DIRT - POST TIME: 4:00 PM ET

PICK ORDER	M/L	P#	HORSE NAME	JOCKEY

WIN	7-2	1	Rivalry	B J Hernandez Jr.
PLACE	4-1	4	Game Warden	J Graham
SHOW	10-1	6	Fear of Union	A Beschizza
WILD CARD	9-2	3	Highland Falls	M Chuan

ALTERNATE 1	10-1	10	Mo Fight	M Garcia
ALTERNATE 2	6-1	7	Absolutely Certain	G Corrales

* EXACTA: 1-4 BOX, 4-6 BOX, 6-3 BOX
* TRIFECTA: 1/4/6 BOX, 3/4/6 BOX

RACE #8 $74,000 ALLOWANCE 6 1/2 FURLONGS ON THE DIRT - POST TIME: 4:34 PM ET

PICK ORDER	M/L	P#	HORSE NAME	JOCKEY

WIN	5-2	5	High Class	C A Torres
PLACE	3-1	8	Pistol	F Arrieta
SHOW	8-1	6	Patschromecompass	L Machado
WILD CARD	6-1	1	Alexa Lou	B J Hernandez Jr.

ALTERNATE 1	15-1	3	Sonador	J Padron-Barcenas
ALTERNATE 2	9-2	7	Stellar Lily	G Corrales

* EXACTA: 5-8 BOX, 8-6 BOX, 6-1 BOX
* TRIFECTA: 5/6/8 BOX, 1/6/8 BOX

RACE #9 $74,000 ALLOWANCE 1 MILE ON THE TURF - POST TIME: 5:07 PM ET

PICK ORDER	M/L	P#	HORSE NAME	JOCKEY

WIN	9-2	7	Havildar	G Corrales
PLACE	15-1	5	Trigger Happy	W A Rodriguez
SHOW	20-1	3	Sant Antimo	C J Lanerie
WILD CARD	6-1	2	Oscar Award	E Morales

ALTERNATE 1	12-1	12	Winnemac Avenue	M Murrill
ALTERNATE 2	3-1	6	Nerves of Steel	J Talamo

* EXACTA: 7-5 BOX, 5-3 BOX, 3-2 BOX
* TRIFECTA: 3/5/7 BOX, 2/3/5 BOX