Racing! Breeders’ Cup back to Santa Anita and Del Mar

Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as we say “I told you so.”

A few weeks back, the Times (and this newsletter) told you that next year’s Breeders’ Cup was going to be at Santa Anita and then at Del Mar in 2021. Well, that announcement is officially coming on Friday.

You can’t help but remember WrestleMania 2, when the event was held at three different locations, the L.A. Sports Arena, Rosemont Horizon near Chicago and the Nassau Memorial Coliseum on Long Island. This is a horse racing version, even though it is just a series of announcements.

On Friday, there’s going to be some form of news conference at Santa Anita in the morning, Keeneland in the afternoon, Kentucky time, and Del Mar in the afternoon, California time. Craig Fravel, the CEO and president of Breeders’ Cup, will be at Santa Anita and Del Mar. If they invent teleportation in the next couple hours, he’ll be in Keeneland, too. But, we’re hoping that doesn’t happen so he doesn’t go the Jeff Goldblum and David Hedison route. (You’ll either get it right away or never.)

There’s a story on the announcement in the Times, so just click here.

I was first told about it coming to Santa Anita in May, but it wasn’t official and negotiations can break down. But it was Joe Harper, the CEO and president of Del Mar, who let the horse out of the barn just before opening day when he told Tod Leonard of the San Diego Union-Tribune that the track was in serious negotiations to return the event to the San Diego area.

I’m prejudiced, but I’d like to see it every year in Southern California. The weather is pretty darn good and the tracks know what they are doing. Ever been to Kentucky in the winter? It can get a bit chilly.

So, congratulations to Santa Anita and Del Mar (and Keeneland, too) for once again snagging the sport’s end of year championship.

Del Mar review

Vexatious had an easier time winning the minor stakes at Del Mar than most people would have trying to pronounce her name. She won the 1 3/8-mile turf race called the $75,000 CTT & TOC Stakes. She’s actually not a bad horse, having finished fourth in last year’s Kentucky Oaks, and ran a few graded stakes last year. Although, somehow, at that time you would guess this race wasn’t on her schedule.

Evo Campo, Fahan Mura and Fool’s Paradise all scratched leaving a field of four. Vexastious, for trainer Neil Drysdale and jockey Rafael Bejarano, finished a length ahead of Queen Blossom. Amboseli was third and Space Cadet was fourth.

She paid $7.00 and $2.60. There was no show wagering.

Del Mar preview

They are saving all the good ones for the weekend when the Pacific Classic heads the Saturday card at midnight or some late hour. Know it’s going to be very late on the card, close to 7 p.m. (Hey guys, that’s 10 p.m. on the East Coast, yeah, big viewership numbers then. Right in the wheelhouse for bettors, too—yes, that’s sarcasm.)

Thursday eight-race card, beginning at 2 p.m. doesn’t have a lot of star power. There are three turf races, but only four claimers.

The feature is an allowance/optional claimer going 1 1/16 miles on the turf. It carries a $67,000 purse. The favorite is Camino Del Paraiso, who is 3-1 on the morning line. He’s won four of 23 lifetime races. His last win was April 20 at Golden gate. He won three races in a row in 2016, one at Del Mar and two at Golden Gate.

What to think about the second choice, Full Of Luck, at 7-2, is a mystery. He’s won eight of 18 lifetime and all the wins in Chile. In 2017 he won three in a row.

Here are the field sizes,in order: 6, 8, 8, 10 (2 also eligible), 12 (1 AE), 10 (2 AE), 8, 10 (1 AE).

Bob Ike’s DMR pick of the day

FOURTH RACE: No. 7 Gain Ground (6-1)

Been stuck on second a lot in his 13-race career but perhaps the recent claim from the Phil D'Amato barn can break through in this starter allowance race on turf. He turned in an even fourth last time in $25,000 claimer that may have been stronger than this field, so make a Win Bet on 'Ground and key him in exacta boxes with Mongolian Greywolf (9-2) and Souter (3-1).

Wednesday’s result: Peach Cove (7-1) finished a very distant second to the runaway winner in race three.

Bob Ike is a Partner/VP of Horsebills.com (here's a video) and the proprietor of BobIkePicks.com (full-card picks, 3 Best Plays and betting strategy).

Final thought

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If you have any thoughts, you can reach me at [email protected]. You can also feed my ego by following me on Twitter @jcherwa

And now the stars of the show, Wednesday’s results and Thursday’s entries.

SAVAGERY sped to the early lead off the rail, angled in and set the pace inside, kicked clear on the turn and drew off under left handed urging in the stretch then a hold late. TWO FIFTY COUP stalked three deep then outside a rival leaving the backstretch and a bit off the rail on the turn and into the stretch and just held second. SUENO broke a bit slowly, angled in and saved ground chasing the pace, came out past midstretch, lugged in some a sixteenth out and was edged for the place. DATA HAWK settled off the rail, came four wide into the stretch and bested the others. SALTARIN between horses early, stalked outside a rival, angled to the inside on the turn and lacked a rally. PRINCIPE CARLO saved ground stalking the pace, came a bit off the rail on the turn and outside a rival leaving the turn and into the stretch and weakened. SAMURAI JACK had speed between horses to stalk the pace, dropped back into the turn, continued outside a rival then between foes into the stretch and also weakened. DYF chased outside then three deep into and on the turn and into the stretch and also weakened. SWAMP SOUFFLE broke behind the field, settled just off the rail to the stretch and failed to menace.

LAMBO LUXX stalked outside on the backstretch and turn, came three deep into the stretch, bid three wide in midstretch under urging, took a short lead past midstretch and held gamely. GO GHETTO settled off the inside then outside on the turn, came four wide into the stretch and finished willingly. CURLY'S WATERFRONT saved ground chasing the pace, came out into the stretch, angled back to the rail in midstretch, bid inside and continued gamely late. REVEREND AL settled outside a rival, came out three deep into thee stretch and found his best stride late. ROCKET FUEL had good early speed and dueled just off the rail then inside on the turn, drifted out some in midstretch, was between foes past midstretch and weakened. HACKLETON dueled outside a rival to the stretch, was between horses in midstretch and also weakened. PRIVATE JOKE stalked the pace off the rail then a bit off the fence on the turn, angled to the inside entering the stretch and also weakened.

GIRL DOWNSTAIRS stalked outside a rival, bid alongside the leader in the stretch to gain the advantage, inched away then drew off under left handed urging and a hold late. PEACH COVE (NZ) chased between horses then outside a rival into the stretch and gained the place late. GONE TO BALI stalked off the rail, bid three deep on the backstretch, took the lead outside a rival on the second turn, inched away inside nearing the stretch, was not a match for the winner in the final furlong and lost second late. NIGHT TIME INC (ARG) angled in and saved ground chasing the pace, came out in upper stretch and was edged for third three deep on the line. SUBIC BAY had good early speed and dueled inside, stalked leaving the second turn, split horses in midstretch and weakened some toward the inside. AWARD IT settled inside, split horses into the second turn, came out some in the stretch and lacked the needed rally. SALSITA chased three deep to the stretch and could not offer the necessary response. CEE SAM'S GIRL broke a bit slowly, angled in and settled outside a rival, went three deep into and out of the second turn and lacked a rally. RED LIVY (IRE) dueled outside a rival then between horses, battled inside on the second turn and weakened in the drive. HIP NINETY THREE pulled along the inside then saved ground stalking the pace, steadied as rivals went by into the second turn, dropped back and weakened.

ALWAYS BELIEVE had speed between horses then stalked a bit off the rail, bid between rivals in midstretch, gained the advantage under urging in deep stretch and gamely prevailed. BROOME three deep early, dueled outside a rival then between foes on the turn, took a short lead in the stretch, fought back then drifted in late and held second. DISCATSONTHESQUARE stalked just off the rail, came out into the stretch, bid four wide in midstretch, fought back in deep stretch and just held third. AWESOMETASTIC a bit slow to begin and crowded some, stalked outside, bid three deep on the turn and into the stretch, battled between horses in the final furlong and was edged for the show. GENEROUS POUR had good early speed and set a pressured pace inside, dueled along the rail on the turn, fought back in midstretch, came out in deep stretch and weakened late. MIZ TIANJIN saved ground chasing the pace, came out into the stretch and lacked a rally. ALPENHORN hesitated then broke inward and behind the field, settled a bit off the rail, moved up inside on the turn, came out in the stretch and did not rally. SUMMER DOWN NOW stalked between horses, dropped back outside on the turn, came three wide into the stretch and weakened. MAGICALCHIC between horses early, chased a bit off the rail then outside a rival, split foes into the stretch and lacked a further response.

VEXATIOUS broke in and a bit slowly, saved ground stalking the pace, came out into the stretch, rallied under urging to collar the runner-up in deep stretch and proved best. QUEEN BLOSSOM (IRE) stalked outside the winner, bid three deep on the final turn and into the stretch, gained the advantage three wide in midstretch, could not hold off the winner but bested the others. AMBOSELI pressed the pace outside a rival, then dueled between horses on the last turn, put a head in front leaving that turn, fought back between foes in the stretch and held third. SPACE CADET took the early lead and set a pressured pace inside, fought back on the final turn and in the stretch and weakened some late.

SQUARE PEGGY had good early speed and set a pressured pace between horses, inched away a bit off the rail on the turn, kicked clear in the stretch and held under a late tap of the whip and good handling. SNEAKING OUT pressed the pace inside then stalked along the rail on the turn and into the stretch and came back on at the winner late. FLYING TO THE LINE broke slowly, stalked between horses, came out leaving the turn and four wide into the stretch and edged a rival for the show. OPUS WON close up stalking the pace between horses, found the inside in the stretch and was edged for third. LADY EMBER stalked the pace three deep to the stretch and weakened. BLUEBERRY PRINCESS pressed the pace outside then stalked off the rail on the turn, came three wide into the stretch and also weakened. THE PET broke slowly, went up inside to chase the pace, saved ground on the turn and gave way in the stretch. ALYSTAR also broke slowly, angled in and settled a bit off the rail, found the fence on the turn and was not a threat. BLEW BY YOU broke a bit slowly, stalked three deep, continued outside then off the rail on the turn, came four wide into the stretch and had nothing left for the drive.

MEET AND GREET broke a bit slowly, stalked inside, came out in upper stretch and rallied under urging to get up three deep late. TRAVIEZA also broke a bit slowly, saved ground chasing the pace and rallied along the rail in the stretch. TIZANILLUSION sent between horses early, dueled a bit off the rail then inside, fought back just off the rail to regain the lead in deep stretch and was caught between foes late. BEAU SQUARE broke a bit slowly, stalked outside then alongside a rival, came three deep into the stretch and finished with interest. NAVAJO DREAMER (IRE) saved ground stalking the pace, came out into the stretch and was outfinished. KIMBERLEA K had speed outside then dueled alongside a rival, took a short lead in the stretch, fought back in deep stretch and weakened some late. RUBY TRUST stalked outside then alongside a rival, came three wide into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. JUST A SMIDGE was in a good position stalking the pace between foes to the stretch and did not rally. OPERANDI between horses early, stalked three deep on the backstretch and turn and into the stretch and weakened. HAND TIMED.

LIVIN ON PRAYER saved ground stalking the pace, came out in upper stretch, bid outside a rival, gained the lead under left handed urging past midstretch and proved best. POWERFUL THIRST chased three deep on the backstretch and turn, came four wide into the stretch and gained the place. FOR THE HUSTLE had good early speed and angled in, dueled inside, fought back in the stretch and held third. BLACK STORM stalked three deep then outside a rival, came out leaving the turn and four wide into the stretch and lacked the needed late kick. VIOLENT AFFAIR hopped slightly in a bit of a slow start, chased outside a rival, went three deep into the turn and our wide into the stretch and lacked a rally. FRIENDLY STEVE angled in and dueled between horses to the stretch and weakened. THE CHADINATOR a bit slow to begin, chased inside, split horses into the turn, continued just off the rail and lacked a rally. MAGNUM MADURO stalked between horses early then a bit off the rail, angled in on the turn and weakened. SERVE ME A DOUBLE angled in and dueled three deep to the stretch and gave way in the final furlong.