Racing! Santa Anita to host next year’s Breeders’ Cup … probably

Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as we try and get a little ahead of the news.

No announcements are currently planned but the lock of the day is that next year’s Breeders’ Cup will be at Santa Anita. And, even though it’s down the road, the next two after that will be at Keeneland in 2020 and back at Del Mar in 2021.

Now, no contracts are signed and negotiations could always fall apart but I don’t think anyone is expecting that to occur. The Breeders’ Cup really only has four viable tracks—Santa Anita, Del Mar, Churchill Downs and Keeneland.

It’s too cold in New York in November, not that they haven’t run it there a few times. You could take advantage of the great Florida weather at that time of year, but Gulfstream doesn’t have enough seats for a huge crowd since it became a racino. The Pegasus tops the facility out at 16,000-17,000 seats.

Tampa Bay Downs? C’mon.

They’ve tried Woodbine, Lone Star, Arlington Park and Monmouth and never went back. See, options are few.

To learn more about the Breeders’ Cup options, check out this story. Just click here.

Del Mar review

Nice Ice won Thursday’s feature, a mile turf race for Cal-bred fillies and mares. Nice Ice, under a ride by Tiago Pereira, rallied outside to beat A Walk in the Park by a head. Rolling Shadow finished third.

Nice Ice paid $14.40, $7.60 and $6.20 for trainer Brian Koriner. The favorite X S Gold finished fourth.

Del Mar preview

Del Mar is back with Night Racing During the Daylight on Friday with its 4 p.m. post. There are eight races, three on the turf, plus a nice Cal-bred stakes race at about 6:30 p.m.

The feature is the $150,000 Real Good Deal Stakes, a seven furlong race for 3-year-old Cal-breds. The favorite is Smiling Angelo, at 8-5. He’s two for two, winning by 4 ½ and 2 ¼ lengths. Mike Smith will ride the Phil D’Amato ridgling.

The second favorite is Take the One O One, who has only finished out of the money once in eight races. He has won three of those races. His last out, he won the Snow Chief Stakes on the turf at Santa Anita. Last year, he was third in the FrontRunner behind Bolt d’Oro and Solomini, both who ran in the Kentucky Derby, Brian Koriner trains and Joe Talamo rides.

Bob Ike’s DMR pick of the day

THIRD RACE: No. 8 Push Through (6-1)

Comebacker from the Edward Freeman barn has been sidelined since a solid third-place effort back in November over this course. He was making his first start on turf that day and moved forward dramatically, so look for him to be very competitive with these Cal-bred maidens if ready to fire off the bench.

Thursday’s result: Ragazza Di Vola (10-1) got no love at the betting windows and ran like it, finishing off the board after passing some horses from last.

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).

Los Alamitos weekend preview

This weekly segment is in the hands of Orlando Gutierrez, marketing and media maven at Los Al. So, the floor is yours, Orlando.

“Led by AQHA champion millionaires Heza Dasha Fire and J Fire Up plus 13 other stakes winners, and more than 50 additional runners with previous stakes experience, California’s best quarter horses will race in the 19th California Breeders Champions Night on Saturday at Los Alamitos. The 12-race card will feature 11 stakes races and will include three pick fours. First post is 7:15 p.m.

“The racing action will be headed by the running of the $380,000 Governor’s Cup Futurity featuring fastest qualifier Parsons Rocket and Robert Adair Kindergarten Futurity runner-up Striver. The card will also include the $203,000 Governor’s Cup Derby with J Fire Up, one of the top contenders. The Jaime Gomez-bred and trained runner earned $1,430,411 in 2017 to be the highest single season earning filly or mare in Los Alamitos history. Named the AQHA champion 2-year-old and 2-year-old filly in 2017, J Fire Up has won eight of 10 career starts including her derby trial on July 15. That was also her first race of 2018.

“’She came out of the race better than how she was doing going into the race,’ Gomez said. ‘She’s doing perfect. I’ve liked everything about her since that race. We’ve taken her to the gates and she just looks so happy and comfortable. She’s settled in nicely.’

“With half of the field of the Governor’s Cup qualifying from his stable, trainer Chris O’Dell is looking forward to the 350-yard dash.

“’There are a few others in there that we have to beat, but we’re excited to be in the position that we are in,’ O’Dell said. ‘All five of our horses are doing well. They drew on top of each other with Tac Me Up in the six post, Jess Bein Me in the seven, Powerful Favorite in the eight and Favorite Wise Lady in the nine. I don’t know if that’s good or bad. I guess we’ll find out on Saturday.’

Parsons Rocket, who outdueled stablemate Powerful Favorite by a nose, had the top time of 17.58 seconds. He will start from the three while searching for his third win in five career starts.

“’The biggest thing with Parsons Rocket is getting him to relax,’ O’Dell said. ‘He can get a little hot. The last time [in the trials] he behaved perfectly. He didn’t even break a sweat. He was pretty cool the entire time and ended up running a great race. We haven’t galloped him as much and instead we’ve been ponying him and he’s been thriving with that plan.’

“Heza Dasha Fire, the 2015 world champion, will headline the $100,000 Spencer Childers Handicap. Trained by Jose Flores, Heza Dasha Fire will be making his 2018 debut and his first start since his second in last year’s Champion of Champions. The $40,000 Matron Stakes for distaffers appears to be a showdown between Kiddy Up Cowgirl and Thermonuclear Energy.

“’We’ve bred Kiddy Up Cowgirl since then,’ trainer James Glenn, Jr. said. ‘We got a couple of embryos out of her before bringing her back to the track. We’ll see how she does, but I expect a good race from her.’”

Ed Burgart’s LA play of the day

SEVENTH RACE: No. 2 Terrific First Down (3-1)

Trainer Christopher O’Dell is loaded with talented 2-year-olds this year and this filly has much upside while only making her third lifetime start. In debut from the rail post, she lugged in solidly early after breaking slow and had much run in reserve during the final 1/8. She showed her ability with a quick break in last 1 ¼-length maiden victory when posting the second fastest of five 300-yard wins on June 23.

Final thought

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BOUJIE GIRL angled in and dueled outside a rival, took the lead and inched away leaving the turn, kicked clear in the stretch and proved best under a couple left handed cracks of the whip and steady handling. DEVILS DANCE broke a step slowly, chased off the rail then outside on the turn, came three deep into the stretch and was clearly second best. MIDNIGHT MIRACLE stalked the pace outside a rival then a bit off the rail leaving the turn and into the stretch and held third. STAYTHIRSTYMYAMIGO sent along early, dueled inside, stalked the winner leaving the turn and weakened in the stretch. NOONSHINE saved ground stalking the pace, dropped back leaving the turn, came out into the stretch and gave way.

BANZE NO OESTE (BRZ) stalked inside then a bit off the rail on the backstretch, continued between foes into the second turn, came three deep into the stretch, gained a short lead outside the runner-up and gamely prevailed under urging. EXOTIC GHOST five wide into the first turn, stalked three deep then outside a rival, bid three wide on the second turn and alongside the pacesetter leaving that turn, took the advantage into the stretch, fought back just off the fence in the final furlong and continued willingly to the end. RPRETTYBOYFLOYD angled in and chased a bit off the rail the inside, came out into the stretch and edged a rival for the show. SENSE OF GLORY had speed between horses then dueled inside, fought back leaving the second turn, continued inside and was edged for third. DRUMMER (GER) broke a bit slowly, saved ground chasing the pace, continued inside into and through the stretch and lacked a further response. BOURQUE three deep early, dueled outside a rival then between foes midway on the second turn, stalked between horses leaving that turn, came out into the stretch and weakened. STEEL PLANK four wide into the first turn, stalked three deep then outside a rival, dropped back just off the rail on the second turn and also weakened.

WORTHY TURK saved ground stalking the pace, cut the corner into the stretch, waited momentarily then bid along the rail past midstretch to gain the advantage under urging in deep stretch and gamely prevailed. MY FRIEND TONY dueled inside, came a bit off the rail into the stretch, fought back to a short lead between horses past midstretch held second second between foes. DR. TROUTMAN pressed the pace outside the runner-up then between foes into and on the second turn, was fanned out a bit into the stretch, put a head in front outside that rival in midstretch, fought back between foes in deep stretch and held third. ORIGINAL INTENT chased three deep then outside a rival, went three wide leaving the second turn and four wide into the stretch and finished willingly five wide on the line. FAMOUS ROCK STAR rank between foes and steadied early, stalked between horses then a bit off the rail, came out in the stretch and continued on willingly four wide between rivals late. JOHN AND MONTAN fractious in the post parade, settled off the rail to the stretch and lacked the needed rally. SAMDAR stalked outside foes, bid three deep on the backstretch and most of the second turn, came three wide into the stretch and weakened.

CANDY CREW had good early speed outside a rival, inched away and set the pace a bit off the rail, angled in on the turn, kicked clear and proved best under urging. NEIGHBORHOOD BULLY chased just off the rail, came out leaving the turn and four wide into the stretch and gained the place. TREASURE HUNTER had speed inside the winner then saved ground stalking the pace, came a bit off the rail in the stretch and bested the others. MIDNIGHT SOOT chased outside a rival or off the rail, came out into the stretch and lacked a rally. IRISH SKY stalked outside a rival then three deep into and on the turn and into the stretch and weakened. FENDER BENDER was in a good position stalking the pace a bit off the rail then between horses into and on the turn, found the rail in the stretch and also weakened. BRIGHT AUTISM MIND a step slow into stride, saved ground chasing the pace, came out a bit into the stretch and had little left for the drive.

ARCH PRINCE settled inside then a bit off the rail on the first turn and backstretch, came out leaving the second turn and five wide into the stretch, bid outside foes in the drive, gained the lead in midstretch and won clear under urging. SEAU pressed the pace three deep then stalked off the rail leaving the backstretch and outside a rival leaving the second turn, came three wide into the stretch, re-bid between foes in the drive, could not match the winner but bested the others. RUN LIKE RHETT four wide into the first turn, angled in and chased outside a rival, split horses leaving the second turn, came three wide into the stretch and edged a foe for the show. TWIRLING TIGER dueled between horses then outside a rival leaving the backstretch and on the second turn, inched away leaving that turn, fought back just off the rail in midstretch and lost third late. PIONEEROF THE WEST saved ground stalking the pace, awaited room off heels leaving the second turn, came out into the stretch, angled in past midstretch and lacked the needed rally. KONA DREAMS pressed the pace four wide then stalked outside leaving the backstretch and on the second turn, came four wide into the stretch and weakened. LYMEBYRD sent between horses early, angled in and set a pressured pace inside, stalked leaving the second turn and weakened in the drive.

TERRIBLE TED broke a bit slowly, chased just off the rail, came out leaving the turn and three deep into the stretch, bid three wide in the drive, gained the advantage past midstretch and gamely prevailed under urging. RED ENVELOPE pressed the pace outside then four wide on the turn, angled in and battled outside a rival into the stretch to take a short lead, fought back between horses in midstretch, drifted to the inside in the final furlong and continued willingly. AIR JOCKEY stalked between horses then three deep on the turn, came four wide into the stretch and bested the others. BIG BAD GARY stalked early then bid between horses to duel for the lead, fought back inside leaving the turn and in the stretch and weakened in the final sixteenth. WHOA BUDDY pressed or stalked the pace between horses, came out three deep into the stretch and lacked the needed late kick. VALIANT stalked four wide then off the rail on the turn, came four wide into the stretch and weakened. LUCKY MESQUITE tracked inside early then bid along the rail to duel for the lead, fell back some leaving the turn and weakened in the drive. TRUE REGARDS had good early speed and dueled off the rail then three deep between horses into and on the turn, dropped back leaving the turn, angled in some and gave way.

NICE ICE stalked outside a rival or off the rail, came out some in the stretch and rallied under urging to get up on the line. A WALK IN THE PARK close up stalking the pace outside a rival, bid alongside the pacesetter on the second turn, gained the advantage nearing the stretch, inched clear in the drive and held on well but was caught in the final stride. ROLLING SHADOW angled in and stalked just off the rail or outside a rival, came three deep into the stretch and edged a foe for third. X S GOLD broke through the gate before the start, was squeezed some at the break, angled in and chased inside, went between horses on the second turn and three deep into the stretch and was edged for the show. MOONSHINE ANNIE saved ground chasing the pace, came out in upper stretch, split rivals in midstretch and could not quite summon the needed late kick. RAGAZZA DI VOLA chased off the rail then went up four wide on the backstretch and three deep on the second turn, came four wide into the stretch and lacked the necessary rally. LEMON CRUSH settled three deep chasing the pace then outside a rival leaving the second turn and did not rally. SEA SMOKE saved ground stalking the pace, came out some in the stretch, went around a rival in deep stretch and lacked the needed rally. EASY SONG sped to the early lead, set the pace inside, fought back along the rail on the second turn and into the stretch and weakened in the final furlong. INLAND EMPIRE settled between horses chasing the pace, found the inside leaving the second turn, came out some in the stretch and was not a threat.

EIGHTY PROOF dueled between horses then outside a rival, took the lead leaving the turn, drifted out some into the stretch and drew clear under urging. HANDSOME JOHN chased between horses then off the rail on the turn and four wide into the stretch and gained the place. SILENT ALARM stalked outside a rival then between horses on the turn and into the stretch and bested the others. NO NEW FRIENDS had good early speed and dueled off the rail then inside on the turn, came a bit off the fence in the stretch and weakened. RED CLEM pressed the pace three deep then stalked three wide on the turn and into the stretch and also weakened. WARRENSDIRTYDANCER broke slowly and behind the field, settled inside to the stretch, came out some past midstretch and was not a threat. ACCLAMATION KING saved ground stalking the pace, continued inside in the stretch and weakened. R U SERIOUS chased outside then three wide, continued off the rail on the turn, came four wide into the stretch and lacked a further response. U S LAWMAN hopped slightly then bobbled some in a bit of a slow start, chased between foes then outside a rival on the turn, drifted inward in the stretch and had little left for the drive. PARK HILL DIAMOND broke a bit slowly, settled off the rail, angled in some on the turn and gave way.