Capsules for Big Race Days at Santa Anita, Belmont Park
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Elsa Lorieul
Whitney winner McKinzie will try for a second straight grade 1 win Sept. 28 in the Awesome Again Stakes
Each Saturday NTRA and BloodHorse provide a one-stop guide to the day's graded stakes races, through capsule looks and entries. Races are listed in chronological order (all times Eastern).
Click on links for full BloodHorse preview.
2:14 p.m.—$125,000 Durham Cup Stakes (G3) at Woodbine (TVG)
Thor's Rocket, a 6-year-old son of Old Forester , and jockey Justin Stein will take on four other rivals in the Durham Cup. Bred and trained by Paul Buttigieg, who co-owns with Gus Vlahos, Thor's Rocket is a five-time winner, with a total of 15 top-three finishes, from 24 starts.
Woodbine, Saturday, September 28, 2019, Race 3Entries: Durham Cup S. (G3)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1The Great Day (ARG)
Patrick Husbands
119
Arnaud Delacour
5/2
2
2Say the Word (ON)
Rafael Manuel Hernandez
119
Gail Cox
6/1
3
3Thor's Rocket (ON)
Justin Stein
119
Paul M. Buttigieg
3/1
4
4Special Forces (KY)
Alan Garcia
119
Kevin Attard
2/1
5
5Aheadbyacentury (ON)
Luis Contreras
119
John A. Ross
7/2
2:35 p.m.—$300,000 Vosburgh Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park (FS2, TVG)
Raymond Mamone's Imperial Hint will look to defend his title in the six-furlong Vosburgh, a "Win and You're In" qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1). Imperial Hint, trained by Luis Carvajal, Jr., is set to make his first start since a track record-setting performance in the grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt July 27 at Saratoga Race Course, where he returned off a three-month layoff to win by four lengths in a blistering 1:07.92.
Belmont Park, Saturday, September 28, 2019, Race 4Entries: Vosburgh S. (G1)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Call Paul (PA)
Manuel Franco
122
Jason Servis
15/1
2
2American Power (KY)
Jose L. Ortiz
124
Linda Rice
15/1
3
3Brown Buckeye (OH)
Jose A. Bracho
124
Anthony T. Quartarolo
30/1
4
4Imperial Hint (FL)
Javier Castellano
124
Luis Carvajal, Jr.
3/5
5
5Promises Fulfilled (KY)
Luis Saez
124
Dale L. Romans
7/2
6
6Firenze Fire (FL)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
124
Jason Servis
5/2
4:43 p.m.—$300,000 Beldame Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park (FS2, TVG)
Midnight Bisou will look to improve to 7-for-7 in her 4-year-old campaign when she headlines the field in Saturday's Beldame at 1 1/8 miles. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Midnight Bisou will return to Belmont for the first time since winning the grade 1 Ogden Phipps June 8.
Belmont Park, Saturday, September 28, 2019, Race 8Entries: Beldame S. (G2)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Midnight Bisou (KY)
John R. Velazquez
123
Steven M. Asmussen
2/5
2
2Spring in the Wind (ON)
Jose A. Bracho
123
Robert B. Hess, Jr.
30/1
3
3Another Broad (MD)
Javier Castellano
123
Todd A. Pletcher
20/1
4
4Crimson Frost (KY)
Manuel Franco
123
Michelle Nevin
30/1
5
5Vexatious (KY)
Joel Rosario
123
Jack Sisterson
5/1
6
6Wow Cat (CHI)
Jose L. Ortiz
123
Chad C. Brown
5/2
5:16 p.m—-$200,000 Pilgrim Stakes (G3T) at Belmont Park (FS2 and TVG)
August Dawn Farm's Tuggle will hope for a smooth trip in the Pilgrim, a 1 1/16-mile turf test for juveniles. Tuggle graduated impressively at first asking June 21 in an off-the-turf maiden sprint, splashing home to a 1 3/4-length score over next-out winner Montauk Daddy. The son of Point of Entry was part of a rapid pace next out in the grade 2 Saratoga Special, but stayed on strong to finish third in the 6 1/2-furlong main-track sprint.
Belmont Park, Saturday, September 28, 2019, Race 9Entries: Pilgrim S. (G3T)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Tuggle (KY)
Jose Lezcano
120
Jeremiah C. Englehart
8/1
2
2No Word (KY)
Jose L. Ortiz
120
Todd A. Pletcher
3/1
3
3Andesite (KY)
Javier Castellano
120
Brad H. Cox
10/1
4
4No Lime (NY)
Junior Alvarado
120
William I. Mott
30/1
5
5Maxwell Esquire (NY)
Dylan Davis
120
Christophe Clement
8/1
6
6Our Country (KY)
Manuel Franco
120
George Weaver
4/1
7
7Structor (KY)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
120
Chad C. Brown
5/2
8
8Famished (ON)
Joel Rosario
120
John C. Kimmel
6/1
9
9The Gray Blur (KY)
Kendrick Carmouche
120
Christopher Davis
20/1
5:26 p.m.—$125,000 Ontario Derby (G3) at Woodbine (TVG) Woodbine, Saturday, September 28, 2019, Race 9
Roaring Forties roars into the Ontario Derby on a two-race win streak. Trained by Daniel Vella, the Borders Racing Stable Ltd.-owned chestnut arrives at the 1 1/8-mile main track Ontario Derby off a strong performance last month. On Aug. 25, Roaring Forties notched a 2 1/2-length victory over 1 1/16 miles on the Woodbine Tapeta. Entries: Ontario Derby (G3)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Avie's Flatter (ON)
Eurico Rosa Da Silva
119
Josie Carroll
5/2
2
2Jungle Fighter (KY)
Gary Boulanger
117
Robert P. Tiller
3/1
3
3Global Access (FL)
Patrick Husbands
124
Michael J. Trombetta
2/1
4
4Solidify (KY)
Kazushi Kimura
117
H. Graham Motion
10/1
5
5Armistice Day (KY)
Rafael Manuel Hernandez
119
Barbara J. Minshall
8/1
6
6Roaring Forties (FL)
Alan Garcia
117
Daniel J. Vella
6/1
5:49 p.m.—$750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) Belmont Park (FS2, TVG)
Grade 1 winner Code of Honor will look for a second top-level score when he takes on older horses in the 101st running of the Jockey Club Gold Cup, a "Win and You're In" qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). The chestnut son of Noble Mission was a three-length winner of the Travers Stakes (G1) Aug. 24 and a victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup would put Code of Honor on even terms with Maximum Security, who captured the Florida Derby and Haskell Invitational, in terms of grade 1 victories this year.
Belmont Park, Saturday, September 28, 2019, Race 10Entries: Jockey Club Gold Cup S. (G1)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Tacitus (KY)
Jose L. Ortiz
122
William I. Mott
5/2
2
2Code of Honor (KY)
John R. Velazquez
122
Claude R. McGaughey III
8/5
3
3Vino Rosso (KY)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
126
Todd A. Pletcher
7/2
4
4Preservationist (KY)
Junior Alvarado
126
James A. Jerkens
9/5
5
5Olympic Village (FL)
Javier Castellano
122
Robert B. Hess, Jr.
30/1
6:38 p.m.—$200,000 John Henry Turf Championship (G2T) at Santa Anita Park (TVG)
Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella's highly regarded United and a pair of Phil D'Amato trainees, Acclimate and Cleopatra's Strike, rate big chances in the John Henry Turf Championship, which has attracted a field of eight.
Santa Anita Park, Saturday, September 28, 2019, Race 7Entries: John Henry Turf Championship S. (G2T)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Ya Gotta Wanna (KY)
Geovanni Franco
121
Philip D'Amato
12/1
2
2Oscar Dominguez (IRE)
Joseph Talamo
121
Richard Baltas
5/1
3
3Cleopatra's Strike (ON)
Abel Cedillo
121
Philip D'Amato
7/2
4
4Ritzy A. P. (KY)
Martin Garcia
121
Dan Blacker
8/1
5
5United (KY)
Flavien Prat
121
Richard E. Mandella
3/1
6
6Grecian Fire (CA)
Mike E. Smith
121
J. Keith Desormeaux
4/1
7
7The Street Fighter (CA)
Edwin A. Maldonado
121
Bruce Headley
12/1
8
8Acclimate (CA)
Victor Espinoza
125
Philip D'Amato
4/1
7:10 p.m.—$100,000 Ballerina Stakes (G3) at Hastings (TVG)
Multiple stakes winner Here's Hannah looks to get back in the win column in the nine-furlong Ballerina.
Hastings Racecourse, Saturday, September 28, 2019, Race 6Entries: Ballerina S. (G3)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Good Luck to You (KY)
Jose Mariano Asencio
123
Philip Hall
6/1
2
2Sunburst (BC)
Antonio Ambrosio Reyes
118
Barbara Heads
6/1
3
3Here's Hannah (BC)
Richard Harvey Hamel
123
John D. Morrison
6/5
4
4Sailingforthesun (BC)
J C Roque
123
Robert J. Anderson
15/1
5
5Bear (KY)
Enrique Alonzo Gonzalez
123
Philip Hall
7/2
6
6Amazonian (KY)
Amadeo Perez
118
Glen Todd
5/1
7
7Daz Lin Dawn (BC)
Romario Saunders
123
Nancy Betts
12/1
7:41 p.m.—$300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park (NBCSN, TVG)
Never better at age 5, Beau Recall heads a field of six in the Rodeo Drive Stakes, a "Win and You're In" qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T). With three wins and two seconds from five starts this year, Beau Recall overcame trouble around the far turn and unleashed a big stretch rally to take Del Mar's grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap by a nose Aug. 3.
Santa Anita Park, Saturday, September 28, 2019, Race 9Entries: Rodeo Drive S. (G1T)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Mirth (PA)
Mike E. Smith
121
Philip D'Amato
6/1
2
2Beau Recall (IRE)
Drayden Van Dyke
123
Brad H. Cox
9/5
3
3Elysea's World (IRE)
Flavien Prat
121
Richard Baltas
6/1
4
4Siberian Iris (IRE)
Rafael Bejarano
121
Richard E. Mandella
6/1
5
5Excellent Sunset (IRE)
Abel Cedillo
121
Anna Meah
7/2
6
6Paved (KY)
Victor Espinoza
121
Michael W. McCarthy
5/2
8:13 p.m.—$300,000 Awesome Again Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park (NBCSN, TVG)
Multiple grade 1 winner McKinzie and rising star Higher Power are set to square off in the Awesome Again Stakes, which has attracted a field of six and is a "Win and You're In" qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Classic. A recent winner of the grade 1 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 3, McKinzie, who is trained by Bob Baffert, has never been better and looms a short-priced favorite. Trained by John Sadler, Higher Power exits the best race of his career, a 5 1/4 length win in the grade 1 TVG Pacific Classic at Del Mar Aug. 17.
Santa Anita Park, Saturday, September 28, 2019, Race 10Entries: Awesome Again S. (G1)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Higher Power (KY)
Flavien Prat
125
John W. Sadler
2/1
2
2Draft Pick (KY)
Joseph Talamo
121
Peter Eurton
8/1
3
3Seeking the Soul (KY)
Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.
123
Dallas Stewart
4/1
4
4McKinzie (KY)
Mike E. Smith
125
Bob Baffert
4/5
5
5Mongolian Groom (KY)
Abel Cedillo
121
Enebish Ganbat
15/1
6
6Isotherm (KY)
Geovanni Franco
121
Philip D'Amato
30/1
9:05 p.m.—$150,000 Ack Ack Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs (TVG) Churchill Downs, Saturday, September 28, 2019, Race 7
Madaket Stables, Slam Dunk Racing and Michael Nentwig's graded stakes-winning Air Strike will invade Churchill Downs from California and headline a field of nine older horses in the 27th running of the one-mile Ack Ack, one of three stakes events scheduled on the penultimate racing program of the track's 11-day September Meet.Entries: Ack Ack S. (G3)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Olympic Village (FL)
David Cohen
118
Robert B. Hess, Jr.
20/1
2
2Air Strike (KY)
Florent Geroux
125
Philip D'Amato
7/2
3
3C Z Rocket (FL)
Calvin H. Borel
121
Albert M. Stall, Jr.
8/1
4
4Thirstforlife (KY)
Miguel Mena
121
Wesley E. Hawley
3/1
5
5Mr Darcy (KY)
Jesus Lopez Castanon
121
Angel O. Montano, Sr.
10/1
6
6Mr. Jagermeister (MN)
Leandro D. Goncalves
121
Valorie Lund
6/1
7
7Mr Freeze (KY)
Martin Chuan
121
Dale L. Romans
8/1
8
8Timeline (KY)
Ricardo Santana, Jr.
121
Steven M. Asmussen
3/1
9
9Unmatchable (KY)
Tyler Baze
121
Steven M. Asmussen
15/1
10:11 p.m.—$250,000 Lukas Classic (G3) at Churchill Downs (TVG) Churchill Downs, Saturday, September 28, 2019, Race 9
Multiple graded stakes winner Quip will take on Winchell Thoroughbreds' Tenfold and eight other rivals under the lights in the seventh running of the Lukas Classic going 1 1/8-miles. Trained by Rodolphe Brisset, Quip was the runner-up finisher behind Seeking the Soul in the grade 2 Stephen Foster at Churchill in June prior to his nonplused ninth in the grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar. Joining Quip in the starting gate is multiple graded stakes-winning Tenfold for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. The 4-year-old son of Curlin most recently finished fourth in the Pacific Classic and hopes to secure his first victory since winning the grade 3 Pimlico Special in May. Entries: Lukas Classic S. (G3)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Hawaakom (KY)
Miguel Mena
121
Wesley E. Hawley
12/1
2
2Blueridge Traveler (KY)
Julien R. Leparoux
121
Kenneth G. McPeek
12/1
3
3Big Dollar Bill (KY)
Chris Landeros
121
Ian R. Wilkes
15/1
4
4Quip (KY)
Florent Geroux
125
Rodolphe Brisset
5/2
5
5Sir Anthony (IL)
James Graham
123
Anthony Mitchell
15/1
6
6Tenfold (KY)
Ricardo Santana, Jr.
123
Steven M. Asmussen
6/1
7
7Pioneer Spirit (KY)
Shaun Bridgmohan
121
Brad H. Cox
5/1
8
8Kukulkan (MEX)
Corey J. Lanerie
121
Fausto Gutierrez
6/1
9
9Silver Dust (KY)
Jack Gilligan
123
W. Bret Calhoun
6/1
10
10Mocito Rojo (KY)
Gerard Melancon
121
Shane Wilson
5/1