Coolmore Runners Anchor Nice Day for Pope Jude Fans

SANTA BARBARA, winner of the Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1) and BOLSHOI BALLET, winner of the Belmont Derby Invitational (G1) were keys to success on Saturday’s Belmont Park card for many Pope Jude fans. Both were ridden by Ryan Moore and trained by Aidan O’Brien for their international owners. Lee Weber, a longtime PJ supporter, sent a text: “U taught me how to bet the Pick 3 and Pick 4. I singled the Euros in all my bets!” Upsetters like DALIKA ($10.60) at Delaware Park and SCOCCIATORE ($12.80) at Belmont aided others in having an excellent wagering day.

Pope Jude Fans Enjoy Belmont Stakes (G1) Day

It was a fun Belmont (G1) Saturday for Pope Jude fans with contenders WIT, DRAIN THE CLOCK, LONE ROCK, SEARCH RESULTS, LETRUSKA, ALTHIQA, DOMESTIC SPENDING, ESSENTIAL QUALITY and HARD LOVE posing for winners’ circle photos. Some nifty exactas contributed to the bottom line with Drain the Clock & Jackie’s Warrior ($45.40), Lone Rock & Tizamagician ($36), Search Results & Obligatory ($15.80), Althiqa & Summer Romance ($82.50), Essential Quality & Hot Rod Charlie ($15) while Hard Love & Desert Peace ($128.50) capped off a lovely afternoon of racing.

FRIDAY & SATURDAY REPORTS GOOD TO POPE JUDE FANS

Pope Jude fans enjoyed a tremendous opening day of Keeneland with winners and exactas led by an excellent win by SA FORADADA ($27.80) for trainer Ben Colebrook in the day’s sixth race. Saturday players also cashed a bunch of tickets on the day and were dutifully impressed when trainer John Sadler’s ROCK YOUR WORLD ($12.40) upset the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and keyed a $38.80 exacta with race favorite MEDINA SPIRIT trained by Bob Baffert.

Pope Jude Fans #GetHot on Saturday with Gulfstream Stakes

With I GET IT ($7.80) in the Sanibel Island, SWEET BYE AND BYE ($4.00) in the Sand Springs, BASIN ($5.00) in the Sir Shackleton, CHURN N BURN ($13.00) in the Pan American (G2), ANNEX $4.20) in the Cutler Bay and CRAZY BEAUTIFUL ($6.00) in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), the Pontiff’s followers were visiting the cashier with regularity on Saturday.

Pope Jude Fans Have a Nice Saturday

With 10 winners on the report Pope Jude fans enjoyed Saturday, March 6. San Carlos (G2) winner BRICKYARD RIDE ($12.00) anchored the Santa Anita slate and was followed up by IDOL (12.80) in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) and a $48.40 exacta with runner-up EXPRESS TRAIN. The huge day of Tampa Bay Downs action kicked off with a $108 for 50-cents trifecta combo of WINFROMWITHIN - CREW DRAGON - BOREAS in the Columbia Stakes and a $173.40 exacta payoff with MICHELINE ($11.20) and MORNING MOLLY. Then in the Florida Oaks (G3), DOMAIN EXPERTISE ($12.80) - JOUSTER - OYSTER BOX combined for a $24.60 50-cent tri. At Aqueduct, CHATEAU ($9.60) won the Tom Fool (G3)and combined with WENDELL FONG and SPEED PASS for a $62.25 trifecta for a pair of quarters.

Saturday Spot Plays at Gulfstream Park

(3:13) GP 8th Race - Trainer Danny Gargan has been on fire during the championship meeting, winning at a 40% clip. He sends out #10 AUSTRIAN in this event off of good spacing and a solid turf figure in his latest start. Quinella pals #1 BURN THE BOATS and #2 LIGHT FURY have better post draws and are both coming off wins over this course.

(4:18) GP 10th Race - Hot jockey Luis Saez takes the call on #8 DIRECTOR’S CUT for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse in the Sweetest Chant (G3). She ran her butt off in an allowance race over this course on January 10 and blew out in :46 1/5 on January 24 for today’s event. It’s, “all systems go.”

No Pope Jude Report Saturday, but Check Back Here for Spot Plays

The report had has some winners but a lot of seconditis on Pegasus Day . With the Santa Anita monsoon predicted and dicey weather elsewhere, there will be no Saturday report this week. We’ll post what ever spot plays materialize in this space by Friday afternoon.

NICE BOXING DAY FOR POPE JUDE FANS

Saturday’s Boxing Day report highlighted a plethora of winners. At Gulfstream Park, WHAT’S THE MOVE ($4.40) kicked it off with BROOKES ALL MINE ($8.00), PAYNTDEMBLUESAWAY ($8.40) and COLONEL LIAM ($4.40) also successful. On opening day at Santa Anita, Nyquist colt WIPE THE SLATE ($7.40) thrust himself into the Triple Crown scene, SMOOTH LIKE STRAIT ($3.60) took the Mathis Brothers Mile (G2), CHARLATAN ($5.20) blitzed the deep Runhappy Malibu (G1) field and NASTY ($15.80) grabbed the Lady of Shamrock Stakes in the last and PIXELATE ($5.40) was a prompt winner of the Woodchopper Stakes at Fair Grounds,

PROMISING JUVENILES DEBUT OVER THE WEEKEND

Supersire Into Mischief was represented by debut maiden winner PRATE at Fair Grounds on December 19. The handsome Juddmonte Farms colorbearer cruised to an easy victory under jockey Florent Geroux for trainer Brad Cox. He ran a faster Beyer speed figure than stakes horses on the same card, stopping the clock in 1:09.81 for six furlongs, thrusting himself into the 2021 Triple Crown discussion.

Trainer Todd Pletcher unveiled talented filly, ZAAJEL at Gulfstream Park on December 20. The Shadwell Farm homebred won by just over seven lengths upon debut, running seven furlongs in 1:23.81. A daughter of Street Sense from a Daaher mare showed the ability to rate and should improve as the distances increase. Luis Saez was aboard for the score.

TWO PLETCHER TRAINEES TO KNOW

A $900,000 Keeneland September yearling, two-year-old PRIME FACTOR (Quality Road – Haylie Brae by Bernardini) broke his maiden by nearly nine lengths upon debut, December 12 at Gulfstream Park. Irad Ortiz, Jr. rode the colt owned by China Horse Club and WinStar Farm, who hit many pundits Triple Crown lists before he had galloped back to the winners’ circle.

Late developing three-year-old ARHAM (Union Rags – Sanaaya by Smart Strike) crushed a maiden field by seven lengths at first-asking over the Gulfstream Park main track on December 17. The Shadwell Farm homebred had been training at J.J. Pletcher’s farm prior to being shipped to Hallandale Beach and had shown a distinct amount of professionalism, which carried over into his debut under jockey Luis Saez. He figures to be even better going longer.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9 * ELLIS PARK - AUDOBON OAKS & ELLIS PARK DERBY ANALYSIS

(5:10) ELP 8th Race - #10 MUNDAYE CALL was a $950,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale purchase, so you know she’s athletic, good-looking and owns a sharp pedigree. The daughter of supersire Into Mischief has acquitted herself well on the racetrack, winning her last two starts by open lengths. We like the ratability she showed in her last start and jockey Florent Geroux should get along famously with the Brad Cox trainee in the Runhappy Audobon Oaks. #4 SCONSIN ran a solid second to Four Graces in the Beaumont (G3) in her latest trip to the gate. trained by Ellis Park stalwart Greg Foley, who is having a tremendous meeting, she’ll be making a late run under hot jockey Jimmy Graham. #2 HELLO BEAUTIFUL has won half of her starts - all in Maryland. She ships to the Pea Patch with excellent speed, a bullet blowout and a trainer who has won 25% of her starts this year. Jockey Julien Leparoux takes the call and the price will be square.

(6:10) ELP 10th Race - Toyota Blue Grass (G2) winner #4 ART COLLECTOR impressed a lot of people at Keeneland. Trained by the highly underrated Thomas Drury, Jr., the son of Bernardini rides a four-race winning streak into the Runhappy Ellis Park Derby and his biggest competitor, #12 SHARED SENSE, was six and a half lengths in his wake in an allowance event at Churchill Downs on June 13. Looks like he’ll be tough to beat once again. The latter, Just won the Indiana Derby (G3) and although some outlets are calling this a class drop for the Brad Cox trainee, we would argue this event is much tougher than that one. The son of Street Sense is fastly improving and another move forward would make him a heads-up foe with the favorite. Jockey Florent Geroux knows him well now. #5 NECKER ISLAND has promised a lot along the way but hasn’t delivered. Recently claimed for a hundred grand, the son of Hard Spun may be better on the turf if they ever run him there, but his last two works have been zippy and maybe new trainer Chris Hartman has figured him out a tad. He’ll be a big number on Sunday.

OAKLAWN & GULFSTREAM SELECTED RACES ON MAY 2 REPORT

Saturday, May 2 - what would be the traditional Kentucky Derby (G1) day, this year features two divisions of the Arkansas Derby (G1) from Oaklawn Park. Gulfstream Park has put together a nifty card with three stakes for racing fans to enjoy. This week’s report features selected races from both tracks. Stay healthy and safe from home and enjoy our sport!

SATURDAY'S FOUR BIG TRIPLE CROWN PREPS

#3 TIZAMAGICIAN has the distinction of running second to Honor A.P., the John Shirreffs-trained colt who we consider a top Kentucky Derby (G1) prospect. Trained by Hall of Famer Richard Mandella, his  main competition in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) is probably Bob Baffert trainee #2 THOUSAND WORDS, an undefeated son of Pioneerof the Nile who won the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) in December. Baffert’s other entrant, #5 HIGH VELOCITY also has claims to the top prize and gets Joel Rosario to ride him this afternoon.

The seven-furlong Swale (G3) brings out an interesting field at Gulfstream Park, where rain is in the forecast. #5 SHIVAREE is being trained to sprint and that could serve him well in this field full of Triple Crown aspirants who have bigger fish to fry. The word, “freak,” has been used in conjunction with #2 UNTITLED in backside conversations this week. Now in the care of Mark Casse, the son of Khozan broke his maiden by 11 against Florida-breds in his first start for trainer Ralph Nicks and seems to have a bright future. Regally-bred #1 MISCHIEVOUS ALEX is proven at the distance and should love an off track. Hot-riding Irad Ortiz, Jr. takes the call and that speaks volumes.

Aqueduct’s Withers (G3) is a mile and an eighth. A difference-making distance for a lot of horses, #5 SHOTSKI won the Remsen (G3) at today’s distance, putting that question mark to bed. There are several things to like about the son of Blame, including his sharp speed figures and solid stable. He’ll face off with American Pharoah’s son, #6 PRINCE OF PHAROAHS, from the powerful Linda Rice barn. It looks like he’s ready to take on the extra furlong this afternoon.

The Holy Bull (G3) has been a key race on the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail for many years. #3 TIZ THE LAW was the best juvenile we saw in person last year. The Barclay Tagg trainee has been thoughtfully handled with the goal of the Kentucky Derby (G1) in mind all along and this race should be contested on a fast track. #1 TOLEDO hails from Juddmonte Farms, so we know the quality is present. His flashy pedigree, solid works and glittering trainer combine to make him a solid contender in this spot. Good things come to those who wait and trainer Chad Brown has plenty of patience. #4 ETE INDIAN had early success on the turf, but moved to the main track for his last start and responded with a big win! He must be respected in this field and he may be better than originally considered.

By Popular Demand!

Many players have asked for a “Friday after Thanksgiving report.” We have dubbed it, “Green Friday.” Selected races from Aqueduct, Churchill Downs, Fair Grounds and Gulfstream Park’s opening day will be featured. The weather is supposed to be relatively decent at those tracks, so let’s get lucky!

2019 BREEDERS' CUP REPORTS IN THE WORKS

Full-card reports for Friday and Saturday of Breeders’Cup at Santa Anita have been the works since the early Brisnet past performances were posted on October 8. Pope Jude reports have been tremendously successful at Breeders’ Cup for the last several years. As usual, the regular link system is not in action for early orders. You will be emailed a link as soon as the reports become available from our editor.

THE HEAT WAVE REPORT

THE HEAT WAVE REPORT WILL HAVE THREE RACES FROM HASKELL (G1) SATURDAY AS WELL AS ONE FROM FROM WOODBINE AND SEVEN RACES FROM SARATOGA ON SUNDAY. 100% OF THE PROCEEDS OF THE SPECIALLY PRICED REPORT WILL GO TO OLD FRIENDS KENTUCKY ON BEHALF OF RETIRED RACEHORSES.

Saturday, March 23 Report Info

The report for Saturday, March 23, 2019 features seven races on the Louisiana Derby card and is specially priced at $5.00.