Horse racing newsletter: Tierney’s ‘Takes on TV’ is back

Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter, as we have Rob Henie and Ciaran Thornton both handicap the first race at Santa Anita.

Our TV critic Mike Tierney is back to review his New Year’s wish list to see how things are going. Mike has done just about everything in the journalism business and at a high level. He was even a sports-on-TV critic at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. So, Mike, what are you thinking?

“I’m not big on New Year’s resolutions — for myself.

“For others? Sure, I’m more than happy to hand them out. In fact, I jumped the gun with some suggestions as the sun was mercifully setting on 2020 for TVG’s and Fox Sports’ presentation of our cherished sport. Yet, well into February, the networks still too often:

“—Botch post parades when the on-air crew eats up too much time discussing one or two entrants — or, worse, commences the commentary too late. (“And now we join the parade with the No. 5 horse . . .”)

“—Reek of insularity when analysts excessively refer to their spouses or fathers who train, then excessively congratulate or console each based on how those horses fared;

“—Permit analysts to interrupt or talk over their peers, which results in the audience unable to understand what either is saying. (The most egregious violator, by a margin of eight lengths: Laffit Pincay Jr. on Fox.)

“—Fib to viewers that we will hear updates on the fate of a spilled horse, then make nary a mention if the news is dire. (Reporting that the jockey involved escaped the mishap uninjured magnifies the error in judgment. They treat us as children who cannot absorb bad tidings.)

“But, hey, positivity is the byword for 2021. And with Valentine’s Day weekend upon us, let’s give some heartfelt love to the networks, mixed in with suggested resolutions, for several aspects they get right.

“—TVG recognizes that overlapping races at different tracks is a viewing inconvenience. Anchor Todd Schrupp, while acknowledging TVG is powerless here, has gently rattled cages by urging the tracks to pick up the phone, call each other and fix the problem.

“—Fox sticks around long after the final race at Aqueduct, its home base, to carry other tracks. Though darkness falls on the crew, the lights stay on for coverage elsewhere.

“—TVG seems to be granting Joaquin Jaime additional screen time, at least on its main channel. More, more. And how about similar exposure for Caleb Keller? Both exude knowledge yet have been under-exposed. Keller, in particular, offers fresh perspective with his handicapping angles.

“—Lovely winter hat, Maggie Wolfendale. Does it get credit for doubling as a chill pill, bringing a calming effect to the informed but adrenalized Fox personality?

“—TVG’s Christina Blacker rarely fails to provide insight in advance on runners trained by husband Dan. The same cannot be said for Britney Eurton with her father. Last weekend, she revealed squat pre-race about Peter’s horse, which won at odds of 20-1. Their post-race interview had the effect of rubbing it in viewers’ faces.

“—Yes, the banter among on-air talent can annoy and distract, but it does generate an occasional guffaw. While kibitzing with Simon Bray recently, Schrupp wisecracked a wink-wink line befitting Cheech and Chong that was fall-off-the-couch funny, if you are into such humor.

“Big picture: The networks have overcome obstacles caused by the pandemic to deliver a full plate of races to our homes. Technical difficulties are unavoidable, and there is the occasional fumble such as Gary Stevens, working from his home office, appearing to misidentify the winner by congratulating a horse and jockey who finished off the board.

“That, we can live with. Keep ‘em coming, whether my resolutions are heeded or ignored.”

Thanks, Mike. Can’t wait for your next report.

Weekly handicapping lesson

It’s time for our weekly handicapping lesson from Rob Henie of the WCHR (West Coast Handicapping Report) and the ECHR (East Coast Handicapping Report). Today’s analysis comes from the first race at Santa Anita and incorporates some handicapping angles into the mix. Rob, take it away.

“This Sunday card begins with an optional claimer at six furlongs on the turf. Top selection is TACOFLAVOREDKISSES (#8). In a race where many of these have shown only one dimension to their game, meaning, break quickly looking for speed from the gate, this one offers some contrary variables, and that’s a good thing on Sunday. He not only exits a main track route, but also has shown the ability to settle well in behind runners, thus, the distance cutback coinciding with the move to the turf while facing a slew of front-running types, should result in a strong try. One other note: Don’t put too much credence into the fact he’s got a tag attached to him in this optional claimer. It’s more worrisome when a horse has proven himself on the track and/or has been financially stable for his connections and then is offered for sale, than it is for a newly turned 3-year-old, where a claim check and winner’s check would leave ‘em showing a profit. For many, the game of owning horses is a revolving door, buy horses, sell horses, profits and losses, but for the most part, the ability to break even on any one particular day is never really considered a bad thing. Look for a midtrip early before Flavien Prat asks for more down the lane, likely effective with a final split in the :23.4 range giving him a legitimate look late. PAPPY BOYINGTON (#1) has some new variables in place, which can also lead to better from this one as well. He strings races together for the first time since September, and where there’s good health, the door is open for better. He’s also been gelded since that last start, now trying the turf for the first time, with Abel Cedillo seeing fit to ride back.

“Hot / Cold Race Trends: Turf sprints have been fair, with just 51% of the winners either on the lead or within two lengths of the leader at the ½-mile pole.

“Win Contenders (order of preference): 8-1-3-9

“X Out Runners (eliminating on the win end): 5

“Positive Notes:

“3 Gates of Heaven - Recent form has been solid, with good health in his corner, while the slower drills are likely indicative they’ll take back slightly before looking to finish down the lane, drills which stress that type of patient effort rather than feeling the need for speed.

“4 Wedding Groom - Neither positive nor negative with this comment, more a side note, as I own this one’s half-brother (same dam, different sire), a newly turned yearling, also out of this dam Wedding Dress (with mine being by Stay Thirsty), and maybe a 2022 debut for this one’s sibling?

“9 Sensemaker - Immediately improved when moved to the turf as well as removing the blinkers.

“Negative Notes:

“6 Just a Command – Tiago Pereira from off the pace isn’t enticing, much better on or near the lead as opposed to finding consistent trouble from further back.

“TOP PICK: TACOFLAVOREDKISSES (#8 7-2 Prat)

“SECOND CHOICE: PAPPY BOYINGTON (#1 10-1 Cedillo)”

The West Coast Handicapping Report can be found at www.westcoasthorseracing.com. It has been endorsed by leading trainers, handicappers and industry sources.

Santa Anita review

Saturday’s feature was the Grade 2 $200,000 Santa Monica Stakes for fillies and mares going seven furlongs. Of course, anyone who has ever driven to Santa Monica knows you can run a bunch of seven-furlong races faster than you can get anywhere in Santa Monica. OK, off point. Anyway, Merneith had no traffic problems, since she went to a contested front and had plenty left in the stretch to win by 2 ¼ lengths.

If you like to bet a gimmick and took all three Bob Baffert horses in this race, you would have gotten $108.50 for whatever multiple of 50-cent bets you made. Merneith paid $20.40, $9.20 and $5.80. Golden Principal was second, followed by Qahira, Biddy Duke, Amuse, Proud Emma, Hard Not to Love, Fair Maiden and Secret Keeper.

Bob Baffert (winning trainer): “I had like five fillies for the race and I ended up with three and I needed a rider. The one thing about Edwin [Maldonado] is he’s probably one of the best speed gate riders there is. This filly, every time I run her, I expect her to win and she gets beat and I’ve been really surprised she hadn’t done what she’s done, and [Saturday] she showed it. I’m just really happy for him, he did a fantastic job getting out of the gate; she relaxed. She looks like American Pharoah to me, when she came in, she looked almost like a spitting image of him. I’m glad they are starting to run now. To me it means more to American Pharoah than anything else but the ownership, the prince in Dubai, I was telling him how high I was on this filly. [Saturday] is the day she finally showed what she has and that was a pretty tough field of horses that she beat. To win one-two-three, it was nice cheering down the lane.”

Edwin Maldonado (winning jockey): “I’m just so happy, it’s another dream of mine to win for Bob Baffert. It took a while, but we got it done. I just want to thank Bob for giving me an opportunity to ride this nice filly. At first she broke good, I looked over and I see Mike Smith [on Golden Principal] and he was right next to me and I’m like ‘Oh, what do I do? Should I let him go or no.?’ but it worked out good, Mike stayed off of me and we both relaxed. Going into the race Bob was telling me she was doing good and had good works.”

Santa Anita preview

For the second straight day there are more turf races than dirt races on Sunday’s card. They are the odd numbers on a nine-race card starting at 12:30 p.m. There is one stakes race and one allowance/optional claimer and two maiden specials. The stakes is the Grade 3 $100,000 Sweet Life Stakes for 3-year-old fillies going six furlongs on the turf. Majestic Steps is the 7-2 favorite for trainer Phil D’Amato and jockey Umberto Rispoli. She is making her second start for D’Amato after being shipped here from Ireland. Her first race here was her only win. The second favorite, at 4-1, is Royal Address, who ships here from Britain. She is trained by Neil Drysdale and will be ridden by Mario Gutierrez. This will be her first U.S. start.

Here are the field sizes, in order: 10, 6, 10, 8, 10, 8, 12, 9 , 10.

Ciaran Thornton’s SA pick of the day

FIRST RACE: No. 2 Lovesick Blues (30-1)

Lovesick Blues and Pappy Boyington are 30-1 and 10-1 respectively from the trainer/owner tandem of Steve Myadi and Nick Alexander. ‘Blues is ridden by Jessica Pyfer and makes the second start off the layout (not counting the nine-length victory Jan. 8th under the lights). There is an 11-pound weight break for this first-time gelded horse who is entered for $40,000 to pick up an even bigger weight break. First time Lasix as well. ‘Pappy makes the second start off the layoff and tries turf Sunday, a good move with the dam having two turf winners from four starters. This is a wide-open spread on your Pick 5 tickets and use as many horses as you can. I give the edge to ‘Blues simply because over the years the “live” Myadi horse is typically the one ridden by the apprentice jockey, plus what a great name for Valentine’s Day! I am using both these value plays for today’s pick.

Saturday’s result: Premiumonstaurday scratched, maybe due to us highlighting her — perhaps!

Ciaran Thornton is the handicapper for Californiapick4.com, which offers daily full card picks, longshots of the day, best bets of the day.

Big races review

A look at graded stakes or races worth $100,000 or more on Saturday.

(Note: Racing at Laurel and Oaklawn were canceled due to weather.)

Gulfstream (6): $100,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint, 4 and up, 5 furlongs on turf. Winner: Leinster ($2.80)

Fair Grounds (7): $100,000 Colonel Power Stakes, 4 and up, 5 ½ furlongs on turf. Winner: Just Might ($7.40)

Tampa Bay (9): $100,000 Pelican Stakes, 4 and up, 6 furlongs. Winner: Zenden ($16.40)

Fair Grounds (9): $100,000 Albert M. Stall Memorial Stakes, fillies and mares 4 and up, 1 1/16 miles on turf. Winner: Dalika ($5.80)

Gulfstream (11): Grade 3 $100,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint, 4 and up, 6 furlongs. Winner: Mischevious Alex ($2.80)

Fair Grounds (10): Grade 3 $200,000 Mineshaft Stakes, 4 and up, 1 1/16 miles. Winner: Maxfield ($3.20)

Fair Grounds (11): Grade 3 $150,000 Fair Grounds Stakes, 4 and up, 1 1/8 miles on turf. Winner: Captivating Moon ($89.00)

Fair Grounds (12): Grade 2 $300,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes, fillies 3-years-old, 1 1/16 miles. Winner: Clairiere ($6.60)

Fair Grounds (13): Grade 2 $400,000 Risen Star Stakes, 3-year-olds, 1 1/8 miles. Winner: Mandaloun ($6.20)

Santa Anita (8): Grade 2 $200,000 Santa Monica Stakes, fillies and mares 4 and up, 7 furlongs. Winner: Merneith ($20.40)

Golden Gate (8): $100,000 El Camino Real Derby, 3-year-olds, 1 1/8 miles. Winner: Rombauer ($4.40)

Big races preview

A look at graded stakes or races worth $100,000 or more on Sunday. All times PST.

1:25 Aqueduct (8): $100,000 Gander Stakes, NY-breds 3-year-olds, 1 mile. Favorite: Nicky the Vest (9-5)

3:46 Santa Anita (7): Grade 3 $100,000 Sweet Life Stakes, fillies 3-years-old, 6 furlongs on turf. Favorite: Majestic Steps (7-2)

Chris Wade’s LA pick of the day

EIGHTH RACE: No. 9 Doctor Gene (4-1)

He will be in action in the featured Grade 1 Brad McKinzie Winter Championship and comes in after improving steadily on my charts. The long strider should run at his best from one of the outside posts Sunday evening. In his trial for tonight’s Championship finale, this runner had his usual less-than-stellar start along with his head cocked sideways until finally leveling off inside the 1/16th pole to finish a close-up second to the outstanding Powerful Favorite, who is the favorite in this race and had a perfect trip from gate to wire last out. If a clean trip is in the offing Sunday, this gelding is more than capable of delivering and at a medium price.

And now the stars of the show, Saturday’s results and Sunday’s entries.