Wonder of Wonders Big Fave to Turn Tables on Dancing Rain in Irish Oaks

The Aidan O’Brien trained Wonder of Wonders is a big favorite to turn the tables on rival Dancing Rain in the 2011 Irish Oaks on Sunday, July 17.  The fourth Irish Classic race of the year is also the most prestigious for three-year-old fillies.  The race has attracted fourteen entrants, but most horse players will have their eyes on only five of those fourteen.

A run appears to have already taken place on O’Brien’s best shot, Wonder of Wonders, who is garnering almost all of the attention from the betting public at -110.  The filly sired by Kingmambo finished second behind Dancing Rain in the Group 1 Investec Oaks on June 3rd.  In what amounted to a merry-go-round race, Wonder of Wonders sat in second, behind Dancing Rain, through soft fractions throughout much of the Investec Oaks until the final stretch where Wonder of Wonders pushed hard to the finish line.  Unfortunately, the pace had been so soft early on in the event, that O’Brien’s filly couldn’t quite catch the Investec Oaks winner.

That winner, Dancing Rain, is the second choice on the board to win the Irish Oaks at 4/1.  Jockey Johnny Murtagh has won thirteen Irish Classic races including five Irish Oaks.  Trained by William Haggas, the Danehill Dancer sired gal figures to be on the lead, or close to it, in Sunday’s Oaks.  Murtagh will once again try to carve out soft fractions and then hold off the on rushing Wonder of Wonders. 

Wonder of Wonders isn’t the only O’Brien trained entrant in the race, though.  Co-third choice Misty for Me won the Group 1 Irish Guineas in May before finishing fifth as one of the favorites in the Investec Oaks.  After the fifth place finish, O’Brien saddled the Galileo sired filly to a stunning victory over champion Midday in the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes.  If Misty for Me repeats her Pretty Polly victory, garnered over elders, she could definitely be the O’Brien horse standing in the winner’s circle, not Wonder of Wonders.  The filly is offering excellent value at 9/2 odds.

Also going off at 9/2 in the Irish Oaks is the Godolphin trained Blue Bunting.  The English 1000 Guineas victor took home fourth place in the Investec Oaks behind Dancing Rain, Wonder of Wonders and Izzi Top.  Top Godolphin pilot Frankie Dettori will hop aboard the Dynaformer filly.  With a faster pace in the Irish Oaks than in the Investec, Blue Bunting should be in the thick of it in the stretch.

Banimpire, the winner of the Group II Ribblesdale Stakes, is the only other filly offering odds below double-digits.  Banimpire, trained by James Bolger, is at 8/1 on the board.  Although the Ribblesdale is a Group 2 race, it should be noted that Banimpire got the 1 ½  mile journey in 2:37.06 while Dancing Rain won the Investec Oaks in 2:41.73.  Banimpire is a logical choice to win the Irish Oaks for those horseplayers with their sights on an overlay.

See below for the field, with odds, entered in this Sunday’s Irish Oaks.

Wonder of Wonders               -110

Dancing Rain                          4/1

Blue Bunting                           9/2

Misty for Me                           9/2

Banimpire                                8/1

Laughing Lashes                     12/1

Chrysanthemum                      20/1

Zain Al Boldan                       30/1

Rumh                                      30/1

Gemstone                                40/1

Hurricane Havoc                     40/1

Make My Heart Sing              50/1

Why                                        55/1

Amazing Beauty                     60/1

Grade I Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs Wide Open Affair

The Grade I Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs this Saturday, the biggest race on American soil over the weekend, figures to be a wide open affair with thirteen horses likely to break from the starting gate under the Twin Spires. 

With the Bob Baffert trained First Dude, winner of the Grade III Alysheba, deciding to skip the Stephen Foster, favoritism could fall on Alysheba second-place finisher Regal Ransom.  A winner of over 1.8 million, Regal Ransom has four victories and four second place finishes out of fourteen lifetime starts.  The Godolphin runner, who does his work close to the lead, could be very difficult to beat if his three works at Belmont Park in anticipation of this, including a four furlong bullet in 46.6 on May 28, is any indication of his readiness.

Giant Oak, the Chris Block trainee sired by Giant’s Causeway, will garner plenty of attention from horseplayers.  Giant Oak was terrific over the Churchill Down’s racing strip last November when taking home top honors in the Clark Handicap.  The horse solidified his top older horse status when winning the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park in February.  Since then, Giant Oak has finished third in the Grade II New Orleans Handicap and fifth in the Alysheba.  A bounce back to the winner’s circle on Saturday is not out of the question for the multiple Grade I winner.

Todd Pletcher’s Mission Impazible, the 2010 Louisiana Derby winner, took a decided step back with a sixth place finish in the Alysheba in his last.  Two races ago, the Unbridled’s Song progeny, took home top honors at the New Orleans Handicap over Apart and Giant Oak.  As one of the favorites in the Alysheba, Mission Impazible was run off of his feet by First Dude and Regal Ransom.  Because of Pletcher’s incredible reputation, Mission Impazible figures to receive plenty of backing on June 18.

Duke of Mischief, winner of the 1 million Grade III Charles Town Classic in his last, has plenty of long shot appeal.  The pace will need to be strong for the son of Graeme Hall to make his presence felt in the Stephen Foster, however.  The Nick Zito trained Equestrio ran very well in his first foray into graded stakes company in the Alysheba in his last.  Equestrio finished third behind First Dude and Regal Ransom in the Alysheba and could take another step forward in the Stephen Foster.

One horse that figures to receive plenty of attention is the Richard Mandella trained Crown of Thorns.  The California based trainer doesn’t often ship his horses meaning that the son of Repent is definitely well meant to take home top honors on June 18.  Crown of Thorns won the Grade II Mervyn Leroy in his last and finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint by a nose last November.

Listed are the likely centrants for this year’s Stephen Foster Handicap:

A.U. Miner

Apart

Crown of Thorns

Duke of Mischief

El Caballo

Equestrio

Flat Out

Giant Oak

Headache

Mission Impazible

Pool Play

Regal Ransom

Worldly

Misty For Me, Midday and Snow Fairy Throw Down in Nassau Stakes on July 30

Misty For Me, the Aidan O’Brien trainee that won the Group 1 Irish 1000 Guineas in May, and the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes over Midday in late June, has been installed as the 2/1 favorite to take home top honors in the Group 1 Nassau Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse on Saturday, July 30.  At 1,986 meters, the Nassau Stakes figures to set up well for Misty For Me’s front-running style.  The O’Brien trainee used front-running tactics in order to put a serious beat down on Midday in the Pretty Polly in her last.  If left alone on the lead and allowed to carve out soft fractions, the 2/1 odds on Misty For Me might be a gift.

The two co-second choices in the race, Midday and Snow Fairy, both at 5/2, aren’t totally out of it to win the Nassau, but both go into the Group 1 race with questions.  Midday couldn’t keep up with Misty For Me as they turned for home in the Pretty Polly.  She simply didn’t accelerate enough to even challenge the O’Brien trained miss.   The Sir Henry Cecil trained champion has finished either first or second in seven straight races, however, going back to 2009.  Midday’s class is unquestioned and if jockey Tom Queally can find a way to put the pressure on Misty For Me early on in the Nassau, Midday might be able to turn the tables on her young rival.

Snow Fairy is, so far, receiving plenty of attention from handicappers.  The Edward Dunlop trained winner of the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup last November faced a tall order on July 2 versus the likes of So You Think and Workforce in the Coral Eclipse.  Considering that the Coral Eclipse was Snow Fairy’s first race in 2011, where she finished fourth, improvement in the Nassau is to be expected, but will it be enough improvement to take down Misty For Me?

Crystal Capella and Banimpire are both listed at 6/1 to win the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood on July 30.  Crystal Capella won the Group 2 Prince of Wales’s Stakes on July 7 over the well-regarded Juddmonte Farms’ runner Redwood, while Banimpire won the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes in June and finished second to Blue Bunting in the Group 1 Irish Oaks only two weeks ago on July 17.

Entrants with odds for the Group 1 Nassau Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse on July 30 are below.

Misty For Me              2/1

Midday                       5/2

Snow Fairy                  5/2

Cyrstal Capella            6/1

Banimpire                    6/1

Sajjhaa                         12/1

Principal Role              16/1

Barefoot Lady               18/1

Theyskens Theory       20/1

Antara                         20/1

First City                     20/1

Field Day                    36/1

Look at Me                 40/1    

Cuff Me Has Stones to Win Cupids Way Stakes

While much of the focus this week is on Churchill Downs and the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby, let’s not forget Belmont Park is offering some great horse betting action.

The Belmont Park card kicks off at 1:00 ET today with an excellent nine race betting card featuring four turf races and a stakes race for horses bred in New York.

The featured betting race for Wednesday is the $60,000 Cupids Way Stakes, which drew a field of seven fillies and mares who will go seven furlongs over what could be a wet track.

Rain was in the forecast for Tuesday night and into Wednesday afternoon, with a 60% chance of a few showers throughout the afternoon.

Rain or shine the Cupid’s Way is a good betting race. The likely favorite is Lots of Stones, who is coming off a sharp win in the state bred Ruby Rubles Stakes on March 31.

Trainer Bruce Levine will give New York’s top jockey Ramon Dominguez a leg up.

The filly that has the best shot of beating the likely betting favorite is Cuff Me, who is coming off a sharp win at Oaklawn Park for trainer Tony Dutrow, with Cornelio Velasquez getting the call to ride the four year old filly.

Let’s head out to Belmont Park for Wednesday’s featured race of the day:

Belmont Park Race 6 The Cupids Way (Post time 3:40 ET)

Cuff Me   5/2

Lots of Stones   8/5

Spa City Princess   8/1

Big Brownie   5/1

Betting Analysis: Cuff Me came off a year layoff with a smart looking win against Alw-2 optional claimers at Oaklawn Park. The fourth place finisher in the race was Wild Hope, who came back to finish second in the Ill. bred Governors Lady in her next outing at Hawthorne on April 23. The filly won her first two career starts over sloppy tracks here by a combined 19 1/2 lengths. The Tony D. barn is 33% winners with horses making their second start off a +180 day layoff.

Lots of Stones beat a couple of these last out when winning the Ruby Rubles by 5 1/4 lengths as much the best, earning a career top speed fig in the process. She passed her first two state bred allowance conditions over the main track here last spring. The filly has now won seven of her nine career starts, but as she gets hammered at the betting windows and it likely will be more of the same here.

Spa City Princess is coming off a win in the Chase the Dream last out in the mud going a one turn mile. Three back she won the Belle Born, which was also over a wet track. Dominguez departs to ride our second choice, which is not much of a surprise, but this filly does appear to be heading in the right direction and she likes a wet track.

Wagering

WIN: #4 to win at 2/1 or better.

EX: 3,4 / 3,4,6,7

TRI: 3,4 / 3,4,6,7 / 2,3,4,6,7

Kentucky Derby Betting – And the Winner Is?

Kentucky Derby betting is red-hot right now, and it is time to pick our winning tickets, so the winner is…? Well, we take a look at all of that, and in a rather unconventional way this year. Don’t forget that we hit big in the last Triple Crown race when Drosselmeyer romped home in the Belmont Stakes. The Derby takes place at Churchill Downs in Louisville, and the favorite is Dialed In, who is +250 in Kentucky Derby betting. Are we on the favorite, or do we have some longshots to offer?

Kentucky Derby Betting

Saturday, May 7 — 6:24 PM ET (approx.)

Churchill Downs

Louisville, KY

TV: NBC

Odds To Win Kentucky Derby

1          Archarcharch               +1300

2          Brilliant Speed            +2000

3          Twice The Appeal       +1000

4          Stay Thirsty                  +1600

5          Decisive Moment         +2200

6          Comma To The Top     +2000

7          Pants On Fire               +1500

8          Dialed In                      +250

9          Derby Kitten                 +3000

10         Twinspired                   +3000

11         Master Of Hounds        +1800

12         Santiva                        +2000

13         Mucho Macho Man     +900

14         Shackleford                 +1300

15         Midnight Interlude       +1000

16         Animal Kingdom          +2000

17         Soldat                          +1000

19         Nehro                           +600

20         Watch Me Go               +4000

Let me tell you first that our horse got scratched. Uncle Mo was going to be the anchor of our win play and the exotics, but he is obviously not 100% in the estimation of his connections, and so the horse that may have been the class of this field, coming off a gastronomical infection, and producer of two Beyer figures in excess of 100, is out. We plod forward, with a couple of longshots in the mix. Do you think this might be a bit unconventional? Our top two choices haven’t won a dirt race between them!

(1) BRILLIANT SPEED (#2, +2000 in the Kentucky Derby betting odds) — OK, here’s where the surprises start. This is a horse that has been bred to go this distance; the only question – and yes, it is a big one – is whether he can get the job done on the dirt.  Admittedly, the two runs over a dirt track were brutal, as the horse lost by a combined 40 lengths. But trainer Thomas Albertrani is quick to point out that those performances may have been as much a product of the distance as they were the surface. Everyone talks about Dialed In as the big closer in this race, but don’t be surprised if this horse doesn’t outdo him.

He’s had improving Beyers in each of his last six starts, and deals with adversity pretty well. In the Dania Beach Stakes, on turf, he was sixth at the rail and moved very quickly to the far outside with a monster rush, just getting nipped at the finish. In the Blue Grass, he was coming from last place, like a locomotive on the outside, and literally had to slow up when stablemate King Congie tried to get in his way (he did the same in the Hallandale Beach Stakes at Gulfstream, and it got him DQ’d). But he won it anyway, and got the attention of Kentucky Derby bettors with a blistering 11.6 seconds for the final eighth, and 34.5 seconds for three eighths. The point is, this is a lot of horse. Look out for him if it’s sloppy too. Out of the #2 spot, there will be the opportunity to save ground.

(2) ANIMAL KINGDOM (#16, +2000 in the Kentucky Derby betting odds) — Animal Kingdom won the Spiral Stakes at Turfway last time out, and though not everyone was impressed with his speed in that race, the field did include a couple of horses who will also be starting Saturday – Decisive Moment and Twinspired, who like Animal Kingdom is +2500 in the Kentucky Derby betting odds. And he came from last to first and drew off in a manner that indicates the distance is not going to be a problem. 

This horse, with only four career starts, has been on the synthetic surface, and on turf, but never on dirt, and that is something that has made some Kentucky Derby bettors shy away. That’s fair enough, which is why his initial work at Churchill Downs, which incidentally was his first work ever on dirt, was widely anticipated by tracksiders. He got rave reviews for six furlongs at 1:13.17. And the late development is that John Velasquez, who was on Uncle Mo before the scratch, has replaced Robbie Albarado here. That could be fortuitous.

(3) MUCHO MACHO MAN (#13, +900 in Kentucky Derby betting odds) — When you figure the exotics, the longshots are fine, but it really helps to have some consistency. That’s one thing Mucho Macho Man brings to the table. This is a solid career we’re talking about, with only one finish out of the money, and that was when he got bumped coming out of the gate in the Holy Bull Stakes. Last time out in the Louisiana Derby, he threw a shoe at the start, and still came third. There are three Beyer ratings in the 90s in the last four races. I don’t know if this is a horse that will actually win the race, but he deserves to be in the overall discussion when it comes to Kentucky Derby betting. Yeah, it has been a bit of a layoff for him, and no one since Needles (1956) has done it after being off for this long, but our theme seems to be "exceptions to the rule."

(4) DIALED IN (#8, +250 favorite in Kentucky Derby betting) — You might be wondering why we don’t have Dialed In at the top. Well, it’s not because we won’t use him in the exotics, because we will. This is a legitimate closer, and if he fires, he can transform this into a different race. But will he fire? After just four career races, does Zito’s horse have enough seasoning to navigate his way through a cluster of horses, particularly if they are tightly bunched, as they might be if the pace it not absolutely to his linking? There are always a lot of questions with these late runners; Ice Box put on a show last year, but it doesn’t always work. We’re using Brilliant Speed in a closing role, but that is based on what we think is an inviting price.

(5) SOLDAT (#17, +1000 in Kentucky Derby betting) — This is a horse we might otherwise throw out, but if this track is wet, there is no question about the fact that we are using him. The huge, huge question is still whether he can get out to the lead, or very close to it, out of the #17 hole. Maybe that’s a bit easier to do without Uncle Mo in the field. Please keep in mind that this is the only horse left in the field who has pitched a 100 Beyer, and he did a 103 in the slop at Gulfstream, winning an allowance race by ten lengths. If you have to bet in advance, it may be worthwhile to take out some insurance like this in Kentucky Derby betting.

Horse Betting – Serious Players Lining Up for Race 9 at Churchill on May 4

Some serious horse racing betting equines will break from the starting gate in Churchill Downs’ Race 9 on Wednesday, May 4.

Race 9 under the Twin Spires on Wednesday is not your typical 6 furlong sprint race. With horses like Snapshot, A Diehl, China and Irrefutable taking to the track, horseplayers can be assured of receiving a somewhat fair price on the pony they like. Keep reading for my top choices in Race 9 on May 4.

Churchill Downs – Race 9

Where: Louisville, Kentucky

When: May 4, 2011 at 4:50 pm EST

TV: HRT

Allowance Optional Claiming $80,000

Purse $56,000. (Includes $9,900 – KTDF – Kentucky TB Devt Fund) for Three-Year-Olds And Upward Which Have Never Won $8,990 Three Times Other Than Maiden, Claiming, Starter, Or State Bred Or Which Have Never Won Four Races Or Claiming Price $80,000.

6 furlongs over dirt

10 – Safe Trip – - 4/1 morning line odds

Not only does this Chad Brown trainee have 3 victories, 1 second and 1 third place finish out of 10 lifetime races as well as a sweet horse racing morning line, the horse also has the requisite speed to keep likely chalk Irrefutable within striking distance throughout this speed lacking race. There just doesn’t appear to be a lot of early hoof in this contest meaning that jockey JJ Castellano should be able to keep the son of Tale of the Cat close to Irrefutable before making a move and battling that one to the finish line. Two of Safe Trip’s three victories occurred over the Churchill dirt and the horse’s best lifetime speed rating happens to be at the 6 furlong distance. At 4 to 1, I don’t see how horseplayers aren’t all over this contender on Wednesday.

8 – Irrefutable – - 5/2 morning line odds

Bob Bafert, who saddles Midnight Interlude in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, trains this now five-year-old bought for $600,000 in 2008. Irrefutable, an Unbridled’s Song sired horse, has 3 victories and 2 second place finishes out of 6 lifetime races. The horse is exceptionally talented, but it’s obviously run into some health issues during its career. Only 6 races lifetime makes this guy tough to back at the expected low odds. Jockey Mike Smith is a master at nursing front runners on the lead and only Safe Trip figures to challenge early, but is the horse sound enough to beat tough equines like Snapshot and Safe Trip? I’m just not comfortable putting a win bet on the chalk. Using in the exotics is a must.

5 – Snapshot – - 7/2 morning line odds

Trainer Bill Mott tried to turn this guy into a graded stakes caliber pony in 2010. It appeared that Mott had done so when the possible horse racing odds second choice in Wednesday’s ninth finished second in a Grade II last June. But then Snapshot finished up the track in a Grade II at Calder and lost by 10 lengths in the Grade I Vosburgh at Belmont Park. Snapshot couldn’t hit the board in a non-graded stakes at Fairgrounds in his last. Improvement should be expected as the Mott trainee always runs better second time off of the layoff. The jockey switch from Kent Desormeaux to Julien Leparoux will help as well.

Horse Wagering Strategy

I like Safe Trip to track Irrefutable and then run by the favorite in the stretch. I will back Safe Trip to win.

I will also wager an exacta in the online horse racing book with Safe Trip over Snapshot and Irrefutable. I will reverse for less. I will wager a trifecta with Safe Trip, Irrefutable in the first slot with Safe Trip, Irrefutable, Snapshot in the second slot with Safe Trip, Irrefutable, Snapshot, 3-A Diehl, 4-China in the third slot.

Good luck!

Horse Racing July Cup Preview – Delegator Fave, Regal Parade Value Play at Newmarket

Godolphin’s Delegator, the winner of the Group 2 Duke of York stakes in his last, is the favorite to win the July 9, Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket.

The well-regarded miler trained by Saeed Bin Suroor won the six-furlong Duke of York in May in fine fashion.  Top Godolphin pilot Frankie Dettori kept Delegator well behind the pace-setters before following Regal Parade to the lead and then taking over from that one at the finish line.  Delegator got the six furlongs in 1:10.18, an excellent time, and deserves to be the +300 favorite in the fixed odds racebook.  Has the horse found a new home in sprinting?  That appears to be the case.

Regal Parade, who could have won the Duke of York if jockey Adrian Nicholls had been just a bit more patient aboard the son of Pivotal, is offering fantastic overlaid odds of +2000 to win the July Cup.  Regal Parade will only need to make up a half a length in order to beat Delegator in the July Cup.  If Nicholls pushes the button at a more advantageous time aboard Regal Parade, then the horse could definitely pay dividends to its backers at nice odds.

Shadwell Stables and trainer Roger Varian saddles sprinting specialist Elzaam, the +550 second choice on the board to win at Newmarket on July 9.  Elzaam was last seen finishing fourth in the Group 1 Golden Jubilee at Ascot behind Society Rock, Monsieur Chevalier and Star Witness.  Elzaam definitely has a shot to win the July Cup, but as the second choice on the board, the horse isn’t offering much in terms of value.

Star Witness, who finished ahead of Elzaam at Ascot, is offering +50 more in the sportsbook than its rival.  The Starcraft progeny trained by Danny O’Brien has finished second twice and third once in its last four Group 1 events and has a big shot to win the July Cup at nice +600 odds.

Only one other horse is offering odds at less than double-digits to win the July Cup, Juddmonte Farms’ Bated Breath.  The fifth place finisher in the Golden Jubilee, Bated Breath is going off at +650 in the sportsbook to win at Newmarket on July 9. 

Check out the entrants, with odds, for the July Cup at Newmarket.

Delegator                                +300
Elzaam                                      +550
Star Witness                            +600
Bated Breath                           +650
Dream Ahead                          +1000
Zoffany                                   +1000
Monsieur Chevalier                 +1200
Dalghar                                   +1500
War Artist                               +1600
Genki                                      +1600
Regal Parade                           +2000
Amico Fritz                             +2500
Libranno                                  +2800
Hitchens                                  +3000
Swiss Diva                              +3300
Oracle                                      +3600
Winker Watson                       +5500
Jimmy Styles                           +5500
Royal Rock                             +5500
      

Gang of 7 Hit Grass for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes

The United States’ Congress has their Gang of 6, six mostly older gentlemen who are desperately trying to save America from financial Armageddon.  Ascot Racecourse in Great Britain will do one better with a Gang of 7 on July 23 when the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes is run.

A lot of times, upwards of fourteen to twenty horses will jump into a prestigious race like the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, one of the most prestigious in the world, but that’s not the case in 2011.  This year, only seven horses will enter the starting gate for the Group 1 race at 1 ½ miles over the turf, but…what a Gang of 7 they are!

Entrants with odds for the race are below.

Workforce                   6/4

St Nicholas Abbey      2/1

Rewilding                   11/4

Nathaniel                     15/2

Seville                         25/1

Midday                       20/1

Debussy                      66/1

How good is this group of horses?  Debussy, the longest shot on the board at 66/1, won the Arlington Million in 2010.  Midday, at 20/1, hasn’t finished worst than first or second in seven straight races going back to 2009, including finishing second to St. Nicholas Abbey and Misty for Me in the Group 1 Coronation Cup and Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes in her last two.  Seville, a 25/1 shot, is not only trained by Aidan O’Brien but finished second in the Irish Derby and second in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris in his last two races.

There’s also Rewilding, the Godolphin runner who goes into this off of a victory in the Group 1 Prince of Wales Stakes.  The Mahmood Al Zarooni trainee is at 11/4 to win the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.  Nathaniel, who won the Group II King Edward VII Stakes in his last and has been receiving positive press leading up to the race, is at 15/2.  Why such gargantuan odds on name horses to win on July 23?

So far, horse players are flocking to the two chalks in the race, St Nicholas Abbey and Workforce. St Nicholas Abbey, the 2/1 second choice, beat Midday in the Coronation Cup after a flat sixth place finish in the English 2,000 Guineas.  Another O’Brien trainee, the horse has incredible class and deserves to be the second choice to win the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

But it’s hard to argue against the favorite winning on July 23.  Workforce, the 6/4 chalk, won the Group 1 Investec Derby and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 2010.  In 2011, the horse has won the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes and finished second in the Group 1 Coral Eclipse Stakes.  Workforce appears to be sitting on a top effort and should be taken very seriously in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes even though the odds are slim.

Small but Exceptional Field Lining Up for Grade I Alabama on Saturday

A small, but incredibly exceptional field figures to line-up for the Grade I Alabama Stakes, one of the top races for three-year-old fillies this year, at Saratoga Racecourse on Saturday, August 20th.  No less than four out of the six entrants should vie for favoritism in the race. 

Chalk status might end up on Grade II Delaware Oaks winner St. John’s River.  The Andrew Leggio trainee took home top honors in the Delaware Oaks in early July before finishing second in the Grade I Kentucky Oaks a day before the Kentucky Derby in May.  Since breaking her maiden in January, St. John’s River posted three second-place finishes before breaking through with the victory at Delaware.

Race Odds:

Royal Delta  6/1

Pinch Pie  15/1

Plum Pretty  9/5

It’s Tricky 8/5

St. John’s River  5/1

Inglorious  6/1

 

The filly that beat St. John’s River in the Kentucky Oaks, Plum Pretty, should garner plenty of attention at Saratoga on Saturday.  Since the Grade I victory, Plum Pretty has been solid with a second place finish against top John Sadler runner Zazu in the Hollywood Oaks and a second to It’s Tricky in the Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks in late July.  Trainer Bob Baffert will saddle Plum Pretty in the Alabama Stakes.

It’s Tricky hails from the powerful Godolphin outfit.  Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, It’s Tricky has won five out of her last six races including taking home top honors over highly-regarded Turbulent Descent in the Grade I Acorn and winning the Coaching Club American Oaks in her last.  Horseplayers should not be surprised if the Godolphin runner ends up as the chalk when the gates open.

Perhaps, favorite’s status will fall on the terrific Inglorious.  The Grade I Queen’s Plate winner, Canada’s answer to the Kentucky Derby, is a fantastically talented sort.  The Hennessy gal beat the boys in the Grade I Queen’s Plate after winning the La Lorgnette and Woodbine Oaks before the Queen’s Plate victory.  Her connections, trainer Josie Carroll and owner Donver Stable, have been pointing their star filly to the Alabama by skipping the other two legs of the Canadian Triple Crown.  Inglorious should be ultra-tough to keep out of the picture on August 20th.

The other contenders in the race are the Anthony Dutrow trained Pinch Pie, a winner of a low-level stakes at Monmouth in her last in July, Darley Stable’s Kinda Spicy, whom is stepping up big time in this off of an allowance victory in July, and the Bill Mott trained Royal Delta who finished third to It’s Tricky and Plum Pretty in the Coaching Club American Oaks. 

O’Brien Brings Strong Hand to 2011 Irish Derby

The trainer that has won five straight Irish Derbies brings an exceptionally strong hand to the race on June 24.  Aidan O’Brien’s hand is so strong in the 2011 Irish Derby that many horse racing fans have already put O’Brien into the winner’s circle.

O’Brien has owned the Irish Derby, run at 1 ½ miles over the Curragh Racecourse in Co Kildare, in recent history saddling the last five winners.  The Coolmore Stud trainer took home the Derby trophy in 2006 with Dylan Thomas.  He won it again in 2007 with Soldier of Fortune and in 2008 with Frozen Fire.  In 2009, O’Brien took home top honors in the Irish Derby with Fame And Glory and then again in 2010 with Cape Blanco.  Aidan O’Brien has won the Irish Derby two other times with the brilliant Galileo in 2001 and with the exceptional High Chaparral in 2002.

Arguably the best thoroughbred trainer in the world, O’Brien saddles 4 of the 9 entrants for the 2011 Irish Derby.  Coolmore’s best chance appears to be 11 to 4 shot Treasure Beach.  The horse is the second choice in the wagering behind chalky Carlton House.  Treasure Beach goes into the Irish Derby after finishing second in both the Group 3 Vase and, ahead of Carlton House who finished third, in the Group 1 Investec Derby on June 4.    Seville, the 6/1 third choice trained by O’Brien, finished second to Carlton House in the Group 2 Dante Stakes in May but finished 10th in the Investec Derby.  Roderic O’Conner at 9/1 and Memphis Tennessee at 10/1 both appear to have a long shot’s chance to win the Derby.

But all of O’Brien’s horses will have to beat the 6/4 favorite, Carlton House.  Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II owns the son of Street Cry who was brilliant when taking home top honors in the Group 2 Dante Stakes but gave way in the stretch at Epsom in the Investec Derby to finish third.  The Sir Michael Stoute trainee figures to be awfully tough to run down in the Irish Derby, though, and rates as the deserving favorite.

The only other horse going off at less than double-digit odds besides Carlton House, Treasure Beach and Seville, is Native Khan.  Saddled by Edward Dunlap, Native Khan often times provides a good showing having finished fourth in the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy, third in the Group 1 English 2000 Guineas and fifth in the Group 1 Investec Derby. 

Below are the horses entered, along with odds, for the 2011 Irish Derby.

Carlton House             6/4

Treasure Beach            11/4

Seville                         6/1

Native Khan                8/1

Memphis Tennessee  10/1

Roderic OConnor       9/1

Dunboyne Express      20/1

Notable Graduate      25/1

Best Hello                   33/1
 

 

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