Weekend Stakes Rundown: Closing Out 2017
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
After a few weeks off, we've brought back the Weekend Stakes Rundown, where BloodHorse.com looks forward to the weekend's biggest races. Consider this your weekly guide to the best stakes races in North America. This week we have a quality group of stakes at Santa Anita Park, highlighted by the American Oaks (G1T). Races are listed in chronological order (all times Eastern).
Saturday, Dec. 30
2:05 p.m.—$100,000 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes at Gulfstream Park
On a busy day of turf stakes at Gulfstream, Bullards Alley will try to add one more highlight to his 5-year-old season that has included an upset victory in the Pattison Canadian International Stakes (G1T) at Woodbine. The gelding will make his first start since a respectable sixth-place finish in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T), which followed his runaway score in the Canadian International.
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, December 30, 2017, Race 5Entries: H. Allen Jerkens S.
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Infinite Wisdom (KY)
Jose L. Ortiz
121
Brian A. Lynch
9/2
2
2Run Time (KY)
Tyler Gaffalione
117
Michael J. Maker
10/1
3
3Gold Shield (KY)
Manuel Franco
119
Claude R. McGaughey III
7/2
4
4English Illusion (ON)
Jose Lezcano
117
Daniel J. Vella
12/1
5
5Honovi (KY)
Luis Saez
117
Brendan P. Walsh
15/1
6
6El Kurdo (KY)
Edwin Rafael Talaverano Cardenas
121
Chad Summers
20/1
7
7Bullards Alley (KY)
Paco Lopez
123
Tim Glyshaw
7/5
8
8Infobedad (ARG)
Joel Rosario
119
Neil D. Drysdale
6/1
3:50 p.m.—$100,000 Damon Runyon Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack
Sea Foam will try to close out his juvenile season with a second straight stakes win over New York-breds in the Damon Runyon. A son of Medaglia d'Oro , Sea Foam will try for a third straight win and stretches out for the one-turn mile after he scored a clear victory in the six-furlong Notebook Stakes Nov. 26 at Aqueduct.
Aqueduct Racetrack, Saturday, December 30, 2017, Race 8Entries: Damon Runyon S.
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Sea Foam (NY)
Kendrick Carmouche
122
Christophe Clement
4/1
2
2Seven Lilies (NY)
Angel S. Arroyo
116
Anthony T. Quartarolo
30/1
3
3Honor Up (NY)
Dylan Davis
116
William I. Mott
12/1
4
4Evaluator (NY)
Joseph Rocco, Jr.
122
Michael Dilger
10/1
5
5Analyze the Odds (NY)
Martin Garcia
122
Todd A. Pletcher
20/1
6
6Empire Line (NY)
Eric Cancel
116
George Weaver
3/1
7
7Jaye Jaye (NY)
Junior Alvarado
118
William I. Mott
6/1
8
8Audible (NY)
Christopher P. DeCarlo
118
Todd A. Pletcher
7/2
9
9Battle Station (NY)
Julio A. Garcia
122
Wesley A. Ward
5/1
4 p.m.—$100,000 Dave's Friend Stakes at Laurel Park
M M G Stables' El Areeb, who opened the year with back-to-back grade 3 victories before he was knocked from the Triple Crown trail with a knee injury, will attempt to end his sophomore season with a win. El Areeb earned his first stakes victory in the James F. Lewis III Stakes at Laurel to cap his juvenile season in the midst of a four-race win streak that continued with the Jerome (G3) and Withers (G3) at Aqueduct to open 2017.
Laurel Park, Saturday, December 30, 2017, Race 9Entries: Dave's Friend S.
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Recruiting Ready (KY)
Horacio Karamanos
123
Horacio DePaz
4/1
2
2El Areeb (KY)
UNKNOWN
123
Cathal A. Lynch
15/1
3
3Fellowship (FL)
Steve D. Hamilton
118
Kenneth Decker
30/1
4
4Do Share (KY)
Jevian Toledo
122
Linda Rice
9/2
5
5Favorite Tale (PA)
Frankie Pennington
118
Guadalupe Preciado
12/1
6
6Eighty Three (KY)
Sheldon Russell
118
David Jacobson
20/1
7
7Struth (MD)
Jorge A. Vargas, Jr.
118
Kieron Magee
8/1
8
8Awesome Banner (FL)
J. D. Acosta
118
Kenneth Decker
20/1
9
9Never Gone South (KY)
Rosario Montanez
118
Cathal A. Lynch
20/1
10
10Schivarelli (FL)
Feargal Lynch
118
Thomas Morley
8/1
11
11Ready for Rye (KY)
Edgar S. Prado
120
Thomas Albertrani
6/1
12
12It's the Journey (MD)
Julian Pimentel
118
Michael J. Trombetta
20/1
13
13Afleet Willy (KY)
Jomar Torres
122
Claudio A. Gonzalez
6/1
14
14Irish Colonel (KY)
John Bisono
118
Cathal A. Lynch
15/1
5 p.m.—$100,000 Robert J. Frankel Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park
Amerman Racing's Penjade is one of two from the barn of Chad Brown to ship west for the 1 1/8-mile grass test. The Air Chief Marshal filly earned her first stakes win last time out Nov. 25 at Aqueduct, where she just got her nose down at the wire to take the Forever Together Stakes.
Santa Anita Park, Saturday, December 30, 2017, Race 4Entries: Robert J. Frankel S. (G3T)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Penjade (FR)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
122
Chad C. Brown
5/2
2
2Midnight Crossing (IRE)
Brice Blanc
120
Richard Baltas
8/1
3
3Laseen (IRE)
Victor Espinoza
120
James M. Cassidy
5/1
4
4Elysea's World (IRE)
Javier Castellano
120
Chad C. Brown
2/1
5
5Gliding By (KY)
Rafael Bejarano
120
Richard Baltas
6/1
6
6Responsibleforlove (IRE)
Joseph Talamo
122
Neil D. Drysdale
3/1
5:35 p.m.—$75,000 Woodchopper Stakes at Fair Grounds
Flurry Racing Stables' Mr. Misunderstood will chase his fifth consecutive stakes score in the Woodchopper. In August Mr. Misunderstood fired off the bench in the Super Derby Prelude Stakes over the Louisiana Downs turf, and returned there for a victory in the Sept. 9 Super Derby. He followed his two Louisiana Downs stakes wins with a pair at Churchill Downs in the Sept. 30 Jefferson Cup and the Nov. 11 Commonwealth Turf (G3T).
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Saturday, December 30, 2017, Race 8Entries: Woodchopper S.
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Just Move On (KY)
Jose Valdivia, Jr.
116
Patrick B. Byrne
20/1
2
2Balandeen (KY)
David Cabrera
116
Chris A. Hartman
30/1
3
3Don'task Don'ttell (IL)
Mitchell Murrill
116
Neil L. Pessin
15/1
4
4First Premio (KY)
Colby J. Hernandez
116
Mark E. Casse
6/1
5
5Mr. Misunderstood (KY)
Florent Geroux
118
Brad H. Cox
4/1
6
6Uncontested (KY)
Channing Hill
116
Wayne M. Catalano
10/1
7
7Big Bend (KY)
Robby Albarado
118
Thomas F. Proctor
6/1
8
8Cowboy Culture (KY)
Corey J. Lanerie
118
Brad H. Cox
8/1
9
9Cedartown (KY)
Jack Gilligan
116
Michael Stidham
12/1
10
10It's Your Nickel (KY)
James Graham
116
Kenneth G. McPeek
20/1
11
11St. Louie Guy (FL)
Christopher A. Emigh
116
Scott Becker
30/1
12
12Caribou Club (FL)
Joe Bravo
118
Thomas F. Proctor
5/1
13
13Oxford Lane (KY)
Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.
118
Kenneth G. McPeek
15/1
14
14Kitten's Cat (KY)
Miguel Mena
118
Michael J. Maker
8/1
6:32 p.m.—$300,000 American Oaks (G1T) at Santa Anita Park
The last opportunity to win a grade 1 against 3-year-old competition has attracted a talented group of invading fillies from the East for the American Oaks, including New Money Honey and Rymska from the barn of trainer Chad Brown. New Money Honey is the only grade 1 winner in the field and comes into the American Oaks fresh off a sixth-place finish last time out in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1T) at Keeneland in October.
Santa Anita Park, Saturday, December 30, 2017, Race 7Entries: American Oaks (G1T)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Madam Dancealot (IRE)
Corey S. Nakatani
122
Richard Baltas
6/1
2
2Kathy's Song (KY)
Brice Blanc
120
Richard Baltas
20/1
3
3Bernina Star (KY)
Kent J. Desormeaux
120
James M. Cassidy
30/1
4
4Daddys Lil Darling (KY)
Mike E. Smith
120
Kenneth G. McPeek
3/1
5
5Pantsonfire (IRE)
Rajiv Maragh
120
Richard Baltas
30/1
6
6Beau Recall (IRE)
Joseph Talamo
120
Simon Callaghan
6/1
7
7Desert Duchess (KY)
Drayden Van Dyke
120
Michael J. Maker
8/1
8
8Rymska (FR)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
122
Chad C. Brown
5/2
9
9New Money Honey (KY)
Javier Castellano
124
Chad C. Brown
7/2
10
10Coachwhip (KY)
Flavien Prat
120
Richard E. Mandella
20/1
7:02 p.m.—$100,000 Midnight Lute Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park
With grade 1 winner Masochistic a likely scratch, according to his owners, the race may be Americanize's to lose. The Concord Point colt won the Damascus Stakes by 2 1/4 lengths Nov. 3 at Del Mar, then finished fourth—behind a trio of grade 1 winners—in the Cigar Mile Handicap (G1) last-time out Dec. 2 at Aqueduct.
Santa Anita Park, Saturday, December 30, 2017, Race 8Entries: Midnight Lute S. (G3)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Silent Bird (KY)
Kent J. Desormeaux
120
Mark Glatt
5/2
2
2Ohio (BRZ)
Brice Blanc
120
Paulo H. Lobo
20/1
3
3Ike Walker (KY)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
120
Jerry Hollendorfer
10/1
4
4Masochistic (CA)
Drayden Van Dyke
120
Bob Baffert
5/2
5
5Americanize (KY)
Rafael Bejarano
122
Simon Callaghan
2/1
6
6Solid Wager (CA)
Victor Espinoza
122
Peter Miller
10/1
7
7Tough Sunday (CA)
Tyler Baze
120
Steven Miyadi
8/1
8
8Calculator (FL)
Javier Castellano
120
Peter Miller
4/1
9
9Smokey Image (CA)
Gary L. Stevens
120
Carla Gaines
12/1
Sunday, Dec. 31
3:34 p.m.—$100,000 Alex M. Robb Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack
Last-out Discovery Stakes (G3) winner Control Group will drop back into New York-bred company in the Alex M. Robb. The Posse colt was claimed by trainer Rudy Rodriguez for $62,500 in January and has won three races since and also placed in the Oct. 21 Empire Classic Handicap at Belmont Park.
Aqueduct Racetrack, Sunday, December 31, 2017, Race 7Entries: Alex M. Robb S.
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Sea Raven (NY)
Dana G. Whitney
117
Kelly Rubley
8/1
2
2Papa Shot (NY)
Junior Alvarado
115
Linda Rice
5/1
3
3Wake Up in Malibu (NY)
Martin Garcia
117
David Jacobson
6/1
4
4Testosterstone (NY)
Angel S. Arroyo
117
Gary Sciacca
20/1
5
5Can You Diggit (NY)
Manuel Franco
114
James A. Jerkens
4/1
6
6Extinct Charm (NY)
Dylan Davis
115
Bruce R. Brown
15/1
7
7Control Group (NY)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
122
Rudy R. Rodriguez
1/1
7:30 p.m.—$75,000 Blue Norther Stakes at Santa Anita Park
Ruis Racing's One Fast Broad has won two straight California-bred stakes on the dirt—Golden State Juvenile Fillies and the Soviet Problems—but will move back to the grass and into open company in the Blue Norther. The Decarchy filly has shown she can handle open company and grass already, however, after a second-place finish in the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf in September.
Santa Anita Park, Sunday, December 31, 2017, Race 9Entries: Blue Norther S.
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Treasuring (GB)
Rajiv Maragh
120
Simon Callaghan
7/2
2
2X S Gold (CA)
Kent J. Desormeaux
120
James M. Cassidy
20/1
3
3Retro (KY)
Mike E. Smith
120
Richard E. Mandella
3/1
4
4Holy Diver (FL)
Modesto Linares
120
Charles R. Stutts
50/1
5
5Deep Breath (IRE)
Tyler Conner
120
Eoin G. Harty
20/1
6
6Empress of Lov (CA)
Tiago Josue Pereira
120
Gary Sherlock
30/1
7
7Silken Spy (KY)
Martin A. Pedroza
120
J. Eric Kruljac
6/1
8
8Streak of Luck (CA)
Ignacio Puglisi
120
Matthew Chew
20/1
9
9One Fast Broad (CA)
Gary L. Stevens
124
Mick Ruis
7/2
10
10Ippodamia's Girl (KY)
Rafael Bejarano
120
Mike Puype
4/1
11
11Multiplayer (KY)
Tyler Baze
124
Tim Yakteen
10/1
12
12Finess Bere (FR)
Drayden Van Dyke
120
Bob Baffert
5/1
13
13Mraseel (IRE)
Alonso Quinonez
120
Richard Baltas
6/1
Monday, Jan. 1
3:34 p.m.—$150,000 Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack
Mr. Amore Stable's Firenze Fire will look to start his 3-year-old season in the same stellar fashion he commenced his juvenile campaign. The Poseidon's Warrior colt won his first two starts, including a one-length score over Free Drop Billy in the Sanford Stakes (G3) July 22 at Saratoga Race Course. After he finished fourth in the Hopeful Stakes (G1) at the Spa, Firenze Fire rallied from 10th to capture the Champagne Stakes (G1).
Aqueduct Racetrack, Monday, January 01, 2018, Race 7Entries: Jerome S.
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Honor Up (NY)
Junior Alvarado
116
William I. Mott
6/1
2
2Diamond King (KY)
Frankie Pennington
118
Robert E. Reid, Jr.
7/2
3
3Regalian (KY)
Luis R. Reyes
116
Chris J. Englehart
15/1
4
4Old Time Revival (FL)
Paco Lopez
116
Kenneth Decker
10/1
5
5Firenze Fire (FL)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
122
Jason Servis
1/1
6
6Smooth B (PA)
Joseph Rocco, Jr.
118
Robert E. Reid, Jr.
20/1
7
7Seven Trumpets (KY)
Robby Albarado
118
Dale L. Romans
4/1
8
8Millionaire Runner (KY)
Nicky Figueroa
116
Jaime Mejia
30/1
6:30 p.m.—$75,000 Joe Hernandez Stakes at Santa Anita Park
The last two runners-up in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) will race down the Santa Anita hillside turf course in the Joe Hernandez. Om was a nose away from Breeders' Cup glory in 2016, when he just missed by a nose behind Obviously, while Richard's Boy missed first by a head to Rockingham Ranch stablemate Stormy Liberal in 2017.
Santa Anita Park, Monday, January 01, 2018, Race 7Entries: Joe Hernandez S.
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Gold Rush Dancer (CA)
Evin A. Roman
124
Vann Belvoir
20/1
2
2Pee Wee Reese (CA)
Joseph Talamo
124
Philip D'Amato
3/1
3
3Cimpl Man (KY)
Rajiv Maragh
122
Gary Mandella
15/1
4
4Mr. Roary (KY)
Mike E. Smith
124
George Papaprodromou
10/1
5
5Tribalist (CA)
Victor Espinoza
120
Blake R. Heap
9/2
6
6Law Abidin Citizen (KY)
Tyler Baze
120
Mark Glatt
8/1
7
7Om (KY)
Drayden Van Dyke
120
Dan L. Hendricks
7/2
8
8Richard's Boy (CA)
Flavien Prat
120
Peter Miller
7/2
9
9Krsto Skye (KY)
Stewart Elliott
120
Ari Herbertson
20/1
10
10Next Shares (KY)
Rafael Bejarano
122
Richard Baltas
12/1
11
11Smokey Image (CA)
Gary L. Stevens
120
Carla Gaines
15/1
12
12Sycamore Lane (KY)
Kent J. Desormeaux
120
David Jacobson
15/1
13
13Conquest Daddyo (ON)
Tyler Conner
120
John W. Sadler
20/1