Perhaps two of the southlands most promising Derby prospects, Tapizar and Comma to the Top had their Derby dreams crushed with poor showings this past weekend. The most notable was the first horse on our list, Tapizar who under Garret Gomez was rank and unmanageable as he faded after setting some ridiculous fractions in the Grade II $250,000 Robert B. Lewis on Saturday. The son of Tapit looked nothing like the pro back in January when he won the Grade III Sham in visually impressive fashion and took a major step backwards for the Steve Asmussen stable who now needs to try and figure out if they can get this guy to rate and relax on the lead. ... When he returns to the races. Earlier today it was announced he's off the Derby trail as it was discovered he has bone chips in a knee and will be sent to the farm to recover. Perhaps its just as well.
Up north, Comma to the top faded trying to rate in the Grade III El Camino Real Derby and judging by that effort, he should be crossed off every list that exists for Derby hopefuls. Sent off at 1/2 under Corey Nakatani, the Peter Miller trainee offered very little when the real racing began.
Perhaps a new addition albeit a longshot is the promising Albergatti who just broke his maiden on Saturday. The son of Unbrideled's Song needs to be brought along quickly if he intends to make the Derby list, and he most likely won't. However, we were encouraged to see his gutty win and this guy should be followed up the ladder when he returns to the races.
Just how impressive was Always a Princess in winning the Grade II $150,000 La Canada on Sunday? Pretty much controlling the pace, the daughter of Leroidesanimaux paid a nice $4.40 and won with plenty left in the tank for trainer Bob Baffert under Martin Garcia. Look for this filly to return shortly at the current meeting. Favored one dimensional Blind Luck found herself again at the mercy of a race with little pace and once again had to settle for second.
Heading to the races? Take us with you! http://www.horseracing-selections.com You'll be glad you did!
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
The Daily Double at Santa Anita
First off lets vent. At Santa Anita on Sunday we saw perhaps the worst ride of young Joe Talamo's career and also perhaps the worst call the Stewards at Santa Anita have made in some time. While the Stews are often making bad calls, we are quite disappointed in Talamo's ride aboard Aggie Engineer.
Now let's understand one thing. We don't often rail on jockeys. Simply put, we personally don't have the guts to do what they do so we tend to cut them slack when it comes to the rides they turn in. For the most part, the jocks around these parts do an outstanding job so we don't have to bitch too much but when you restrain a free running front runner 3-4 wide the entire trip with fractions of :23 3/5, :48 3/5 and 1:13 2/5 you don't give your steed much of a chance to win the race. Perhaps that's why Aggie Engineer check in a well beaten third in Sunday's Grade III San Antonio.
As far as the Stews go, well that's another story. They continue to amaze people every day of the week with the calls they make and lack thereof. It seems that they have turned into "handicappers" and now base their calls on what they "think" the horse was going to do. Sunday's 7th race was such a race when #3 Holy Flapper came out in upper stretch and herded out #4 Magic Launch, taking him right out of the race. Hold on, though. The Stews said it didn't cost #4 Magic Launch and that the original order of finish wasn't effected. What? How do they know? Magic Launch lost the place by less than a length and was actually re-rallying after the incident took place. A foul is a foul and horses that commit one should be sat down. There should be none of this hocus-pocus that is now being used. Just another thing wrong with the current state of horse racing in California, the Stewards. Let's just call them what they deserve to be called ... Manny, Moe and Jack.
In Saturday's Grade I $250,000 Las Virgenes Turbulent Descent, the Mike Puype trained filly lost the first race of her career when defeated by Zazu from the John Sadler stable. Ridden to victor by Joel Rosario, the daughter of Tapit got a perfect ground saving ride and was notching up career win number two from six tries. She returned $10.
Twirling Candy took another big step forward to a date with the Santa Anita Big 'Cap with a solid, facile win in Saturday's Grade II $200,000 Strub Stakes. John Sadler takes another stakes this weekend and Joel Rosario was along for the ride at $3.
Heading to the race track soon? Bring us with you for the type of expert race coverage you have come to expect. Oh, by the way. We also provide you with winners! http://www.horseracing-selections.com/
Now let's understand one thing. We don't often rail on jockeys. Simply put, we personally don't have the guts to do what they do so we tend to cut them slack when it comes to the rides they turn in. For the most part, the jocks around these parts do an outstanding job so we don't have to bitch too much but when you restrain a free running front runner 3-4 wide the entire trip with fractions of :23 3/5, :48 3/5 and 1:13 2/5 you don't give your steed much of a chance to win the race. Perhaps that's why Aggie Engineer check in a well beaten third in Sunday's Grade III San Antonio.
As far as the Stews go, well that's another story. They continue to amaze people every day of the week with the calls they make and lack thereof. It seems that they have turned into "handicappers" and now base their calls on what they "think" the horse was going to do. Sunday's 7th race was such a race when #3 Holy Flapper came out in upper stretch and herded out #4 Magic Launch, taking him right out of the race. Hold on, though. The Stews said it didn't cost #4 Magic Launch and that the original order of finish wasn't effected. What? How do they know? Magic Launch lost the place by less than a length and was actually re-rallying after the incident took place. A foul is a foul and horses that commit one should be sat down. There should be none of this hocus-pocus that is now being used. Just another thing wrong with the current state of horse racing in California, the Stewards. Let's just call them what they deserve to be called ... Manny, Moe and Jack.
In Saturday's Grade I $250,000 Las Virgenes Turbulent Descent, the Mike Puype trained filly lost the first race of her career when defeated by Zazu from the John Sadler stable. Ridden to victor by Joel Rosario, the daughter of Tapit got a perfect ground saving ride and was notching up career win number two from six tries. She returned $10.
Twirling Candy took another big step forward to a date with the Santa Anita Big 'Cap with a solid, facile win in Saturday's Grade II $200,000 Strub Stakes. John Sadler takes another stakes this weekend and Joel Rosario was along for the ride at $3.
Heading to the race track soon? Bring us with you for the type of expert race coverage you have come to expect. Oh, by the way. We also provide you with winners! http://www.horseracing-selections.com/
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