St. Louis Derby Returns

 While all eyes were on the great card up at Saratoga for Travers Day, we look to catch a fine race in the heartland.

FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing Race 6 {St. Louis Derby~1 1/16 mile~3 year-old~Stakes}

In Southern Illinois at the old Fairmount Park, seven talented horses will enter the gate for a good evening stakes race.

Past Performances used:  Equibase.

This field has enough speed to create a favorable pace. All but one are shipping in to compete for the 250k purse. Speed numbers are very close making this a highly competitive event. It should be a excellent race to cap off a great day of racing.

#3 Irish Unity (B. Hernandez / Asmussen) will stretch out for this race with the second highest last out speed number and two exceptional workouts. He should be forwardly placed. This guy comes in from Ellis Park. A gelded son of Pioneer of the Nile, he is 100% in the money from three career starts.

$2 WIN  /  $3 PLACE  /  $5 SHOW.

#1 Gagetown (De La Cruz / B. Cox) should go off as the favorite with the highest last out speed number and three superb peaking workouts. Look for him to track the pace and strike in the stretch. He comes in from Prairie Meadows. A son of Exaggerator, he is 87% in the money from eight career starts.

$2 PLACE  /  $3 SHOW.

#4 Hozier (C. Landeros / Brisset) is another that should track the pace. He holds the third highest last out speed number and two stout workouts. This colt has hit the board in all three of his starts at this distance. Another son of Pioneer of the Nile, he is 62% in the money from eight career starts.

$2 SHOW.

#5 Flash of Mischief (Talamo / Broberg) comes in from Saratoga where he last raced against much tougher. He should be forwardly placed ready for battle. He shares the highest speed number at the distance. A son of Into Mischief, this colt is 72% in the money from eleven career starts.

$1 Saturday Exacta Wheel ($3.00)

#3 Irish Unity  //  #1 Gagetown,  #4 Hozier,  #5 Flash of Mischief.

10 CENT Superfecta Box ($2.40)

#4 Irish Unity  +  #1 Gagetown  +  #4 Hozier  +  #5 Flash of Mischief.

Best of luck to all !!!

A Little Turf Action on Stakes Saturday

 While all eyes will be on the great stakes races at Saratoga and Del Mar, we journey down to Louisiana for some great LA bred stakes action. Fuller fields with strong opportunities await.

Louisiana Downs Race 6 {LA Cup Turf Classic~1 1/16 mile~TURF~3 year-old Up~LA bred~Stakes}

A field of eleven will hit the grass in this annual event featuring Louisiana Bred horses.

Past Performances used:  Equibase.

There is enough speed to take this crew through swift fractions. Only four in this group have raced over the Louisiana Downs course. Speed numbers are fairly close. Only three stretch out to this distance. It should be a fantastic race.

#7 Carleas Dream (Wade / Jacks) might have the edge with the highest last out speed number at a longer route and four significant workouts. This guy has hit the board in his last three and has two victories at this distance. He should be forwardly placed ready to roll. A son of Lea, he is 80% in the money from fifteen career starts.

$1 WIN  /  $2 PLACE  /  $3 SHOW.

#9 Jaci's Royalty (Thornton / Harrison) should challenge with the third highest (tie) last out speed number and one solid workout. This guy notched a win at this distance in his only attempt. Look for him to track the pace strategically and spring into the stretch. A son of Royal Strand [IRE], he is 55% in the money from nine career starts.

$1 PLACE  /  $2 SHOW.

#4 Afleet Ascent (Marquez / Faucheux) will contend with the second highest (tie) last out speed number and two robust workouts. He also holds the second highest speed number at this distance. Look for him amongst the forwardly placed herd. A son of Northern Afleet, he is 50% in the money at this distance.

$2 SHOW.

#2 Mangelsen (Lozada / Faucheux) should be in the mix sharing the third highest last out speed number and throwing down two strong workouts. He should show speed on the front end. This guy will be stretching out to this distance for the first time. A son of Band Sound, he is 50% in the money from twenty-two career starts. 

$1 SHOW.

#10 Grand Luwegee (D. Saenz / Perron) should be in the thick of it when the gates fling open. He holds the fourth highest last out speed number as well as being in the money in his last three races. A son of El Corredor, he is 59% in the money from twenty-seven career starts.

$1 Saturday Exacta Wheel ($4.00)

#7 Carleas Dream  //  #9 Jaci's Royalty,  #4 Afleet Ascent,  #2 Mangelsen,  #10 Grand Luwegee.

10 CENT Superfecta Box ($2.40)

#7 Carleas Dream  +  #9 Jaci's Royalty  +  #4 Afleet Ascent  +  #2 Mangelsen.

Have a magnificent day of racing !!!

Million Day at Arlington International 2021

 This Stakes Saturday we look in on the races at Arlington International on what may still be called Arlington Million Day. Our focus will be the Mr. D, named after Chairman-Emeritus, Richard Duchossois who will celebrate his 100th birthday. Sad to say, this looks to be the last season of racing at the magnificent track.

            The statue at Arlington International commemorating the inaugural Arlington Million in 1981. It features the great John Henry nosing out The Bart for the win.

Arlington International Race 9 {Mr. D Stakes~G1~1 1/4 mile~TURF~3 year-old Up~Graded Stakes}

A fantastic field of ten will hit the beautiful Arlington TURF in this great graded stakes race.

Past Performances used:  DRF Classic.

There is plenty of speed to keep the pace rolling through swift fractions. Speed numbers are all very close. All of these lads should get this distance based upon pedigree. Three millionaires make up part of the field. Like the picture above, we foresee a tremendous stretch dual between Armory [IRE] and Domestic Spending [GB] to cap off a nearly forty year running of this event.

#9 Armory [IRE] (Moore / A. O'Brien) comes in after racing across the pond. He holds the second highest last out (equivalent) speed number of this crew. He specializes in this distance and loves the Turf, of course. As stated above expect him to track the pace and close vigorously in the stretch. A millionaire son of the great Turf sire, Galileo [IRE], he is 80% in the money from fifteen career starts.

$2 WIN  /  $3 PLACE  /  $5 SHOW.

#3 Domestic Spending [GB] (Prat / C. Brown) comes in from New York with a four race win streak. He holds the highest last out speed number and three strong peaking workouts. He will be prominent in the aforementioned stretch dual. This guy loves the distance and the Turf. Much like half the field, it will be his first race over the Arlington International course. A millionaire son of Kingman [GB], he is 100% in the money from seven career starts.

$2 PLACE  /  $3 SHOW.

#8 Bizzee Channel (Loveberry / Rivelli) should be the speed of the field with three others pressing the pace. He has already logged a win at this distance and should be a horse for the course with four wins of five races over the Arlington course. He comes in with a two race win streak and two solid workouts. A son of English Channel, he is 70% in the money from twenty career starts.

$3 SHOW.

#7 Space Traveler [GB] (Tudhope / B. Walsh) also comes in from across the pond racing in Great Britain. He will stretch out to this distance, but his pedigree suggests this should be in his wheelhouse. Look for him to track the pace and be in the thick of it when the quickening begins. The Euros have usually done very well at Arlington on this big race day. A son of Bated Breath [GB], he is 47% in the money from nineteen career starts

$2 SHOW.

#5 Zulu Alpha (L. Saez / Maker) could be sitting on a big race as he makes his second start of the year after a long layoff. Even so he does share the highest speed number with the favorite, at this distance. He is another tracker closer and will be a threat in the stretch. A millionaire son of Street Cry [IRE], he is 61% in the money from thirty-six career starts.

$1 Saturday Exacta Wheel ($4.00)

#9 Armory [IRE]  //  #3 Domestic Spending,  #8 Bizzee Channel,  #7 Space Traveler [GB],  #5 Zulu Alpha.

10 CENT Superfecta Box ($2.40)

#9 Armory [IRE]  +  #3 Domestic Spending  +  #8 Bizzee Channel  +  #7 Space Traveler [GB].

Best of luck to all.  May you have an extremely profitable day!!!