Stonestreet Lexington (G3) day started off well with bet down GLORIETTE ($4.78) coasting home easily, keying a $34.30 exacta with Let’ Go Brandi and a $20.50 50-cent trifecta with Missle. ST. BENEDICTS PREP ($6.74) won the second to complete a $17.88 double. RED STATE ($8.50) captured the fourth with first-time starter READY FOR SHIRL ($17.86) winning her debut in the fifth for double Hall of Fame trainer Roger Attfield. ROSES FOR DEBRA ($5.52) won her Giant’s Causeway (G3) comebacker and ENCINO ($8.62) took the Lexington (G3) while securing “first in the Derby” also eligible status. ROYAL MAJESTY ($8.42) posted the victory in the nightcap, completing a $18.89 double.
BLUE GRASS (G1) BONANZA
ELEPHANTS EAR ($8.10) took down the opener and BILLAL ($9.28) captured the second race for a $57.84 Daily Double and a $44.50 exacta when Scatify reported home second. The streak continued with favored DISCREET MISCHIEF ($3.70) and Timeout combining for a $22.68 exacta. BUCHU ($15.04) validated her Keeneland form and then ALVA STAR ($6.32) outran Vahva for a $19.20 exacta in the Resolute Racing Madison (G1). Another “horse for course,” ARZAK, won the Shakertown (G2) with Mischief Magic checking in second for a $36.80 exacta setting up a $199.83 PICK FOUR when SIERRA LEONE ($5.32) motored home on top in the Toyota Blue Grass (G1). The exacta with Just a Touch returned $19.92. RUNNING BEE ($5.04) took the nightcap, securing a $75.21 PICK FOUR, sending Pope Jude fans home in a very good mood.
Huge Day in Hallandale
SET ($3.20) was a chalky start and Euro interloper KERTEZ ($6.00) kept the trend going at Gulfstream although the $2 exacta with Harry Hood for $57.40 and the 50-cent tri with Tawny Port retuned $29.10 on the report too. VIVE VEUVE ($35.60) is more of what we were looking for and combined with Ozara for a $91.40 exacta. OSCAR ECLIPSE ($7.80) won the Sir Shackleton Stakes, CAIRO CONSORT ($9.80) took the Sand Springs Stakes, SMOKIN’ T. ($11.20) captured the Appleton Stakes and FIERCENESS ($4.20) wore the colorful Florida Derby (G1) flowers.
At Oaklawn Park, PROVE WORTHY (19.80) won his comebacker and MUTH ($6.60) won the Arkansas Derby (G1).
Pope Jude Fans Enjoy Excellent Derby Prep Saturday
Pope Jude fans had lots of reasons to celebrate during Saturday’s Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) card and Louisiana Derby (G2) day. TRIKARI ($10.82) started the festivities off at Turfway with a game score in the Rushaway Stakes. DANA’S BEAUTY ($43.14) kept the roll going in the next race and magnificent Eric Foster claim, EVERLAND ($24.10), continued her success story. Favored ENDLESSLY ($4.88 ) took the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), giving Mill Ridge Farm sire Oscar Performance three winners on the day.
RAGTIME ($21.40) got us going at Fair Grounds and RED ROUTE ONE ($11.80) captured the New Orleans Classic (G2) and keyed a $70.80 exacta with TOUCHUPONASTAR. Muniz Memorial Classic (G2) winner, I’M VERY BUSY ($6.80) and Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) winner TARIFA ($5.00) closed out the afternoon.
Tampa Bay Derby (G3) Weekend Good to Pope Jude Fans
Late afternoon tote issues aside, Tampa Bay Derby (G3) Day was a good one for Pope Jude fans. HERCULES ($11.40) kicked off the festivities in the second race and FULL NELSON ($9.80) kept it rolling in the Columbus Stakes. Chalky STERLING SILVER ($5.20) won the overnight handicap and key play WASKESIU ($7.80) emerged victorious in the Florida Oaks (G3). She combined with STYLE POINTS for a nifty $72.80 exacta. DOMESTIC PRODUCT and NO MORE TIME were the exacta in the feature but it was deemed a non-wagering race by track management.
Santa Anita was good too, with CANE CREEK ROAD ($7.20) taking the opener and KINZA ($3.00) winning the Santa Ysabel(G3). MUCHO DEL ORO ($7.80) won the San Simeon (G3) down the hill, combining with DANCING BUCK for a $44.80 exacta and LANE WAY for a $157.60 trifecta. Flavien Prat stole the B. Wayne .Hughes Beholder Mile (G1) with SWEET AZTECA ($8.80) and made a $23.00 exacta with favored ADARE MANOR. Everybody went home smiling when HEADED FOR OM ($14.60) took the nightcap with JANE KENDEIGH second for a $30.80 exacta.
Preakness (G1) and Belmont (G1) Days Good to Pope Jude Fans
Triple Crown season is popular with horseplayers around the globe. Pope Jude reports have proven not only popular but useful to a myriad of fans seeking handicapping help or just another set of eyes on the past performances.
Friday’s Black-Eyed Susan (G2) Day report featured nine winners on the 14-race card to get the party started at Old Hilltop. The Preakness (G1) Day report provided 10 winners on another 14-race card, including the late Pick 5 ($1,112.70) on a small ticket.
An excellent Friday card at Belmont Park provided seven winners in the eleven races. Belmont (G1) Day followed suit with nine winners on the 13-race card including five exactas.
Keeneland Opening Weekend
With 16 winners out of 30 covered races on the report over the two-day span of Keeneland racing, Pope Jude fans had a nice share of success. The three major Kentucky Derby preps around the country were exciting although relatively true to form, LORD MILES not withstanding. The Lexington Stakes (G3) this Saturday rounds out the “road to the Triple Crown,” and then it’s off to Churchill Downs.
Pope Jude Fans Enjoy Breeders' Cup at Keeneland
It was fun to hear from Pope Jude fans about their experiences at Breeders’ Cup.
Adam, from Wisconsin sent an email; “Had a great coupleof days. Black Forest ($17.30) on Friday got me started and I never looked back!” Duane in Arizona said he always has trouble with turf races: “Not my forte. Thankfully Mischief Magic ($15.84) and Meditate ($6.08) helped me a bunch.”
Saturday was excellent too. Jessica from Florida made some dough: “I hope you had a great BC. I got some nice priced winners thanks to you.” Lily in Illinois inquired: “How did you know about Blue Stripe? She ran an unbelievable race and won me my biggest exacta bet of the day with Malathaat.” Robert from Iowa was ecstatic about Rebel’s Romance: “I am a War Like Goddess fan but didn’t want to single her. I used Rebel’s Romance ($13.92) and another horse off your report and hit a $4800 Turf Pick 4. Thank you, my wife was thrilled!”
SHORT FIELDS, HURRICANE IAN ADVERSELY EFFECTS BC PREVIEW DAYS
Short fields and some inclement weather brought by Hurricane Ian has adversely effected the cards at Churchill Downs, Belmont at Aqueduct and Santa Anita. Unfortunately there will be no Pope Jude report for Saturday. Best of luck if you play this weekend. Hopefully, “FallStars Weekend” at Keeneland will be fast, firm and full.
TRAVERS (G1) DAY SUCCESS!
Pope Jude fans enjoyed an excellent Travers (G1) day at the Spa with $18+ winners MAJORITY PARTNER, CODY’S WISH and WICKED GROOVE on the report. Add GUFO ($10.80) in the Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer (G1) and Travers (G1) winner EPICENTER. Some chalky winners, several exactas and the $172.50 for a buck trifecta in the nightcap made Pope Jude nation leave Saratoga’s signature day smiling. Happy fan, Bob, wrote, “ The Pope had a pretty darn nice day at the Spa Saturday!” Yes, Bob. It was lovely.
JIM DANDY (G2) OF A DAY!
Another excellent Saturday for Pope Jude players as CAPTURE THE FLAG ($7.60) kicked off Jim Dandy (G2) day. AMUNDSON ($14.40), MARVELOUS MAUDE ($4.80) and MR. CHAIRMAN ($6.90) added to the Saratoga bankrolls. MOBOU ($9.60) started the Del Mar festivities with COMANCHE COUNTRY ($5.80), ELENIAK ($8.40), NEWGATE ($3.00) and LADY CLEMENTINE ($13.00) sending everybody home way ahead on the day!
Reports Getting Winners at Resort Tracks
The Pope JUde reports have been helping players win at Saratoga, Del Mar and Monmouth Park. CHLOE ROSE ($6.40), WHATLOVELOOKSLIKE ($12.80), SHUTTERS ($14.20 and the $47.60 exacta with Front Line Dancer) and CREDIT EVENT ($11.20) kicked off opening Saturday at the Spa. Last weekend, JANE MAST ($9.00), the awesome NEST and CATCH THAT PARTY won at Saratoga with HIGHLY MOTIVATED and ADHAMO winning at Monmouth Park. Longshot STAYINCOTAI ($39.40) was a day-maker at Del Mar and the exacta with Handy Dandy ($129.60) was a big boost to the ROI. AVENUE OF FRANCE ($14.00) won the Osunitas Stakes and BELLABEL ($8.00) took the nightcap with longshot Sixteen Arches second for a $192 exacta and Island of Love third completing a $448.60 trifecta to end the evening.
Oaks & Derby Weekend Fabulous for Pope Jude Fans
The second race on Oaks (G1) day got us started with OLGA ISABEL ($22.80) reporting home on top. INVENTING completed the exacta ($49.40) with MISREAD finishing the $64.40 dollar tri. JU JU’S MAP ($3.00) came back sharp in the fourth race and the chalky Chad Brown-trained BLEEKER STREET ($4.00) and FLUFFY SOCKS took the fifth event exacta returning $11.00. OLYMPIAD ($3.80) and HAPPY SAVER picked up a $12.00 exacta in the seventh and MATEREYA ($4.00) proved best in the ninth.
We crushed the tenth race when ARREST ME RED ($7.40) won in a gutsy effort and longshot BRAN ran on for second at 40-1. The exacta returned $322 and when GREGORIAN CHANT closed for third, we hit a nifty $573.30 for 50-cents trifecta!
SECRET OATH ($10.80) and NEST combined for the $39.40 exacta in the Oaks (G1). Our last win of the day came in race twelve with SOCIETY ($9.80).
CONGRESSMAN ($11.00) won the opener on Derby (G1) day, then SURFER DUDE ($6.20) cashed in the second for a $23.90 Double and a $19.60 exacta when OSBOURNE ran second. SPEAK OF THE DEVIL ($4.20) reignited the flame in the fifth event of the afternoon with stablemate IN ITALIAN making the $12.80 exacta and WAKANAKA rounding out the $18.30 for a dollar tri.
Chad Brown again in the seventh with comebacker JACK CRISTOPHER ($3.40) and fast-closing Bill Mott trainee OBLIGATORY ($9.80) underlining her love for Churchill Downs in the eighth. JACKIE’S WARRIOR ($4.00) ran away with his field in the tenth and SANTIN ($16.20) added a lot of value to the horizontal payoffs in the eleventh.
The longest shot on the board in the Kentucky Derby (G1), RICH STRIKE was tough to find but super exciting to watch. It was a sensational Derby!
CANDY TYCOON ($14.60) closed out our day in the thirteenth and left us with a fatter wallet and a thankful smile on our face for the fabulous weekend.
A SOLID SATURDAY AS DERBY APPROACHES
PREVALENCE, SPENDARELLA and ZANDON all got the candy on Saturday at Keeneland. MO DONEGAL, SPEAKER’S CORNER and WIT made the New York Pope Jude fans happy and at Santa Anita TAIBA and GOING GLOBAL carried the banner. It was a chalky day across the country, but we cashed lots of tickets and enjoyed the Kentucky Derby (G1) steppingstones.
DERBY PREP SATURDAY - FLORIDA, ARKANSAS & KENTUCKY
The trifecta of MAIN EVENT, RED DANGER and SMOKIN’ T kicked off the Florida Derby (G1) day festivities for Pope Jude fans followed by a runaway victory by Ghostzapper’s son FEARLESS in the Ghostzapper (G3). CRYSTAL CLIFFS and STOLEN HOLIDAY then combined for the exacta in the Sand Spring Stakes. The best two fillies, KATHLEEN O. and GODDESS OF FIRE ran 1-2 in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) with PHANTOM CURRENCY reporting home first in the Appleton (G3) and WHITE ABARRIO taking the Florida Derby (G1) combining with CHARGE IT for the exacta and SIMPLIFICATION for the tri.
LIFE IS HARD started the action at Oaklawn Park and then WESTERN RIVER and PLAUSIBLE DENILE coupled up for a nice exacta. FULSOME upset CEZANNE for the exacta in the Oaklawn Mile (G3). MACRON closed for an allowance score and jockey Florent Geroux made a wise choice riding CYBERKNIFE in the Arkansas Derby (G1).
Trainer Mike Maker had himself a day at Turfway Park and ENID got it started. Jockey Gerardo Corrales chose to ride NOBALS in the Animal Kingdom which proved to be the right decision. TIZ THE BOMB was best as predicted in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) wrapping up a fun afternoon in Florence, Kentucky.
RAINY TAMPA BAY DERBY (G2) DAY
TAMPA BAY DOWNS - SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 2022
(3:14) TAM 7th Race – Chad Brown holds the aces in the Hillsborough (G2). Undefeated #5 BLEEKER STREET heads the field, looking to win her fifth straight. The daughter of Quality Road is proven over this course although we don’t know how much the rain will affect the going. Stablemate #6 ROCKY SKY had an absolutely horrid trip in the Saratoga Invitational (G3 – soon to be a G1). Chad wisely regrouped with her and the daughter of Rocket Gibraltar should revert to her solid Irish form this afternoon, especially if there is give in the ground. #7 RUNAWAY RUMOR should be considered. The Flintshire filly has run well against graded company, gets Jose Ortiz for the first time and she owns the top turf figure in this field.
(3:49) TAM 8th Race – Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher is particularly adept with horses coming off layoffs. He sends out #4 DYNAMIC ONE for the Challenger (G3). The son of Union Rags was a decent three-year-old and should be even better at four. His works are solid, he handles off going and Irad Ortiz, Jr. sticks with him. Fellow Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey will saddle #3 GREATEST HONOUR. The son of Tapit has won three of seven starts while never finishing out of the money. He’ll get Lasix for the first time this afternoon and certainly has claims to the top prize with brother Jose Ortiz in the irons.
(4:51) TAM 10th Race – If the Columbia Stakes stays on the grass, the Shug McGaughey-trained #6 FORT WASHINGTON is the preferred option. The son of War Front has turf experience, gets Lasix and a jockey switch to Hall of Famer Javier Castellano. If the race is switched to the main track, #3 KITTEN MISCHIEF would be the top contender. The Into Mischief gelding has won on an off track, although it wouldn’t surprise us if he liked the sod as well. No doubt jockey Manny Franco will be more aggressive with the Jonathan Thomas trainee today.
(5:23) TAM 11th Race – #4 CLASSIC CAUSEWAY ran a lovely race in the Sam F. Davis (G3), his first race of 2022. Trained to perfection by Brian Lynch, he basically overpowered the field. There are a couple of interesting newcomers in the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2), but the son of Giant’s Causeway from a Thunder Gulch mare owns a pedigree that absolutely screams mud, he’s been breezing great since his comeback win and gets the benefit of jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. Second in the ‘Davis (G3), #9 SHIPSATIONAL is two-for-two on off tracks. The son of Midshipman, from the Eddie Barker shedrow, has won three of five lifetime starts and is also out of a Thunder Gulch mare. Jockey Manny Franco takes the reins this afternoon as Javier Castellano jumps ship for one of the new faces, #8 MAJOR GENERAL. From the Pletcher barn, that one is a son of Constitution who has won both of his starts. Unraced since September, he’ll need his best effort to win but the Triple Crown is a long game. #3 HAPPY BOY ROCKET impressed us when breaking his maiden at Gulfstream Park in January. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott has been pointing the son of Runhappy to this race and a big effort can be expected with Junior Alvarado back aboard.
“Here’s hoping the next ticket you buy is a winning one.” Dick Riley
Horse Racing Radio Network Appearances This Week
The Pontiff will be hosting “Race Day on HRRN” Thursday, February 24 and Friday, February 25 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM on Sirius219/XM201 and streaming live on horseracingradio.net. In addition he will host the “Weekend Stakes Preview” presented by NYRA Bets on Friday, February 25 from 6:00 to 7:00 PM on the same channels and website. Therefore there will not be a popejude.com report for Saturday. International pedigree expert and handicapper Bob Nastanovich will join him on all three broadcasts.
Nice Pegasus World Cup Day
Pope Jude fans enjoyed a productive Pegasus World Cup Day at Gulfstream Park, with 10 winners on the albeit chalky report, although as they say in golf, “You’ve got to take what the course gives you.” BEAUTIFUL LOVER was the best of the mild upsetters at $10.20, while SPACE TRAVELLER helped key in nice trifecta ($70.90 for 50-cents) in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Turf (G1).
Winners Galore on Travers (G1) Day!
The Travers (G1) day full-card Saratoga report featured 10 winners on the card. First-time starter JACK CHRISTOPHER kicked off the skein with a sharp 1:09 4/5 performance in the second race. Trainer Chad Brown announced his next start should come in Belmont’s Champagne (G1). Another Brown trainee, VIADERA, took the Ballston Spa (G2) in a bounce back performance - her second run after a long layoff. New York-bred WHITTINGTON PARK added blinkers and took the fifth. Fellow New Yorker BIG PACKAGE won the sixth against open company and champion GAMINE won the Ketel One Ballerina (G1) for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert. YAUPON was lucky and game to win the Forego (G1) after being savaged in the stretch by FIRENZE FIRE. Then JACKIE’S WARRIOR and LIFE IS GOOD put on a show in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1). Not surprisingly, international superstar LETRUSKA beat her rivals in the Personal Ensign (G1) and Christophe Clement added to his magnificent Saratoga meeting, taking photos with GUFO after the Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer (G1). The ultra-talented ESSENTIAL QUALITY ran another corker in the Travers (G1) and ended the chalkfest on a memorable note.
Pope Jude Fans Crush Saratoga's Whitney (G1) Day
Saturday’s Whitney (G1) card was a virtual cash machine for Pope Jude fans who started off their day with FORT PECK ($23.40) in the second race. The Pick Five and Pick Four sequences were popular hits too, according to the emails we received - “I thought we were cooking with gas when Fort Henry won the second,” wrote Jason. “(Joseph O’Brien) killed them. (State of Rest) made the day.”
The Pick Five started off with BELLA SOFIA ( $10.40) and followed with STATE OF REST ($44.20). Chalky KNICKS GO ($4.10) went wire-to-wire in the Whitney (G10 as predicted, but DANNY CALIFORNIA ($15.80) and TIME LIMIT ($10.40) ensured the payoffs would be juicy. The 50-cent Pick Five returned $3495.75 and the Pick Four paid $833.25. Gene wrote, “Well, I never saw the nine (State of Rest) coming but I hope you are right the rest of the way.” Luckily we were, and Gene followed up with, “I promise, my wife’s happy too! One of these days I have to buy you a drink.”