DEL MAR, Calif. – Keyed by 29-1 longshot Win for M’lou’s surprise victory in the featured $54,000 Del Mar Kiwanis Purse, Del Mar’s Friday program will have a $488,667 carryover for Pick Six players to shoot for.

Post time for the first race Friday is 3:30 p.m., with  Pick Six wagering conducted on the third through eight races. With a carryover of almost a half-million dollars, the pool could go as high as $2.5 million with $2 million in “new” money bet Friday on the popular exotic wager.

Win for M’lou, ridden by Victor Espinoza as the longest shot in a field of seven older fillies and mares sprinting five furlongs on the turf, rallied strongly in the stretch to win by three-quarters of a length in :56.03, returning $61, $16.80 and $6.40 after her second win in only eight lifetime starts.

The winner, a three-year-old daughter of Gilded Time, is owned by Bruce Chandler and trainer by Craig Dollase. Thursday’s race was her first since finishing ninth and last in the Railbird Stakes at Hollywood Park May 9.

Pink Diamond was second, three-quarters of a length ahead of the even-money favorite, Separate Forest, with Paleo fourth. Pink Diamond paid $3.80 and $2.60, while Separate Forest returned $2.40.

Friday’s carryover was clinched in the eighth and final race Thursday which was won by Gnarly Dude under Patrick Valenzuela for a $14.60 payoff.

Attendance Thursday was 7,745.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Queen of the Creek made it two in a row at Saratoga Race Course, going wire-to-wire to win the $75,000 Riskaverse as the fairy-tale story of previously undefeated Lisa’s Booby Trap ended with a last-place finish in the one-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies.

Lisa’s Booby Trap, who had won four straight on the dirt, never appeared comfortable on the grass under Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux, tucked away fourth early on the rail behind Queen of the Creek and then fading through the stretch to finish 10th, beaten nearly 17 lengths by the winner.

Owned by her trainer, Tim Snyder, who bought her for only $4,500, Lisa’s Booby Trap nonetheless received a warm round of applause from the crowd of 9,589 when she returned from her losing effort.

“A lot of people are prepared for the win, and not prepared to be disappointed,” said Snyder as he led the filly back to the barn. “I was prepared to be disappointed.

“This is no big deal,” he added. “It was her first time on grass.”

Queen of the Creek, a daughter of Theatrical who fetched $140,000 at the Keeneland September yearling sales, covered the mile in 1:33.94 under Julien Leparoux as she scored her first stakes victory in the Riskaverse, which was run in two divisions.

Earlier, the Todd Pletcher-trained Awesome Maria held off SnowTopMountain to win the first division of the Riskaverse by a half-length, returning $4.70 in her 2010 debut as she ran the mile in 1:35.06.

The Tom Proctor-trained Queen of the Creek, winner of a July 26 optional claimer at the Spa, paid $10.40 to win as the second choice in the field of 10 behind Lisa’s Booby Trap, the sentimental favorite as well as the betting favorite.

From the moment she arrived at Saratoga, blind in one eye and named after both Snyder’s late wife and a gentlemen’s club in Miami, the story of Lisa’s Booby Trap captured the imagination of racing fans across the country. Following her victory in the Loudonville on the main track on August 6, Snyder decided to try her on the grass to keep his options open for the gangly filly, but it did not work out.

“She was never comfortable,” said Desormeaux, who had been aboard for the big filly’s Loudonville win. “Not two feet out of the gate. She was grunting and making noise. I’m sure she didn’t enjoy the going at all. This doesn’t take anything away from her for me. She’s already a superstar.”

Snyder, whose sister, daughter and mother-in-law all came to Saratoga Springs for the race, and who was followed throughout the day by a crew from Dateline NBC, said he was disappointed with the loss but glad for the experience.

“It was a great experience for her,” he said. “She’ll go back to my mother-in-law’s farm in Syracuse.”

The 77^th running Grade 3 Sapling at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J. on Saturday is interesting because there are four horses dropping into this race after running in the Grade 2 Sanford on July 25 at Saratoga Race Course.

Those four horses are: Maybesomaybenot (first in the Sanford), Nacho Saint (second), Another Silver Oak (third) and Chipshot (fifth). Chipshot had some trouble in the Sanford and adds blinkers for the Sapling.

Another invader is Madman Diaries who comes in from Woodbine in Canada where he was second in the Colin after having to check late. He previously won the Victoria by nine-and-a-quarter lengths.

Vengeful Wildcat is the defender of the local turf with two lifetime wins from that many starts, including the Tyro on July 25 at Monmouth.

Ben Perkins Jr., who trains the 2-year-old son of Vindication – Wild Snitch, by Forest Wildcat, says the dark bay colt is maturing rapidly and training forwardly since his last start five weeks ago.

“He’s done well since the Tyro,” Perkins said. “He had a couple of breezes in company the last two weeks, and he’s looking good.

“He worked in company with Wildcat Brief last week, (Aug. 29), and they went head-and-head the whole way. A good work for both of them because they’re both running this weekend.”

The three other local horses are Printing Press, a maiden special weight winner, J J’s Lucky Train, a maiden winner, and Brother in Arms who still is a maiden but ran second to Vengeful Wildcat in the Tyro.

There should not be a lack of speed in the Sapling with half of the field heading to the front. Maybesomayenot looks to be the quickest and should be followed by Brother in Arms, Chipshot, Madman Diaries and Vengeful Wildcat.

Nacho Saint is the dangerous one to close off the pace if the frontrunners burn their candles at both ends.

The field for the Sapling from the rail out: Madman Diaries (6-1), J Sanchez; Nacho Saint (7-2), J Bravo; Another Silver Oak (6-1), F Jara; Vengeful Wildcat (9-2), C Marquez; Printing Press (15-1), C Lopez; J J’s Lucky Train (20-1), J Rose; Brother in Arms (10-1), C DeCarlo; Chipshot (4-1), S Bridgmohan; and Maybesomaybenot (3-1), E Trujillo.

The four horses I like in here are: Maybesomaybenot (9), Chipshot (8), Vengeful Wildcat (4) and Nacho Saint (2).

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Illinois racing lost one of its most ardent supporters when longtime trainer Tom Tomillo passed away Wednesday evening at Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village, Ill. He was 66 years old. 

A fixture in Chicago racing for more than more than five decades, first as an owner and later as a trainer, Tomillo won his first race as a trainer at Arlington Park in 1971. Tomillo’s barn won at least one race here every year from 1971 through 2009 and his 376 wins here rank him 16th on Arlington’s all-time list of leading trainers.  In addition, he was leading trainer at Hawthorne in 1988 and 1990.

Known primarily as a claiming trainer, Tomillo enjoyed considerable success with Lord of the Game, a $10,000 claim that went on to win two graded stakes – the Grade III Hanshin Cup here and the Grade II Cornhusker at Prairie Meadows.

Tomillo is survived by his brother Patrick; sons Thomas Jr. and Anthony; daughter Lynda Hakala; seven grandchildren; and companion Lynda Farinella.

Visitation will be Friday, Sept. 3 from 3 p.m. until 9 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 4 from 8:30 a.m. until 9 a.m. at Salerno’s Galewood Chapels, 1857 N. Harlem Ave., Chicago.  Funeral mass will be Saturday, Sept. 4 at 9:30 a.m. at St. William Church, 2600 N. Sayre Ave., Chicago.

(Rick goes solo with the With Anticipation on Friday at Saratoga Race Course)

Grade 3 With Anticipation for two-year-olds on turf at a mile-and-a-sixteenth at Saratoga

TYPHOON SLEW (1), very impressive Ellis Park score at a mile on the sod. Hats off to the DRF staff’s description in their comment line for “As rider pleased.” I guess next it’ll be, ridden out side saddle. This one steps way up. POWHATANCOUNTY (2), roughed up in Monmouth Park try, but did win at this track and distance two back. Trainer George Weaver has done well with his two-year-old stock. I like this one to move forward. GRIGIO (3), hard charging close in last almost got him there. You can’t sit 19 lengths off the lead with two year olds. They find enough trouble to get into all by themselves, why make it harder. Keep him closer, and you’ll keep him in the mix.

AIR SUPPORT (4), benefactor of Grigio’s decision to stay back. Regardless, you have to be impressed with both of these guys first distance tries. He’ll be around late as well. LOU BRISSIE (5), just like his daddy, Limehouse, has a Grade 3 win under his belt. Now it’s time to go long, but on the turf. He won’t have to deal with Kantharos, as that youngster was retired because of an injury. Still the turf question lingers for me. MANCHURIAN HIGH (6), sloppy day had little to do with the beat down he got in last. He may get another one today.

SILVER MEDALLION (7), hung on after being jostled in maiden victory. Bullet work here in last at Saratoga, and trainer Chad Brown still is hot. This guy’s quite playable. KID CURRY (8),chances for the type of improvement needed to win this race are slim. Not today. SOLDAT (9), bought dat, just haven’t won dat. Sire had a pretty decent record going shorter. Think dat is where he needs to be. SENSATIONAL SLAM (10), this is a great move by the Pletcher barn. Back to back synthetic stakes wins, good time to try the turf. Going to need to shift it into high gear to get away from that post, so we shall see how much he has left at the line.

Rick’s picks: 2,10,4,7.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – At the beginning of the year, when trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Edward P. Evans began mapping out Quality Road’s run to the Breeders’ Cup Classic, it included several key stops, including the Grade 1 Donn Handicap, the Grade 1 Met Mile, and the Grade 1 Whitney.

Everything was going according to plan until the final yards of the Whitney, when Quality Road was nabbed at the wire by Blame for his first loss of the year.

Saturday, Quality Road’s connections are looking for the Elusive Quality colt to get back on track when he faces six others in the 57th running of the Grade 1, $750,000 Woodward, one of the Labor Day weekend highlights at Saratoga Race Course.

“We were a half-a-head short of [being unbeaten] this year,” said Pletcher of Quality Road’s 4-year-old campaign. “Every race is paramount; they’re all important. If you lose, you regroup and try again, to regain his confidence, and regain our confidence.”

In the Whitney, Quality Roadfound himself alone on an easy lead, and wound up surprised in the final jumps by the fast-closing Blame. In the Woodward, Pletcher is hoping the speedy Arcodoro, front-running winner of two of his three starts this year, will give Quality Road a target in the 1 1/8th-mile race.

“We’re hoping for someone to show enough initiative so he can follow someone,” said Pletcher, who will again give John Velazquez a leg up on Quality Road, the 1-4 favorite from post position 3. “That would be our Plan A.”

Arcodoro, owned by Southern Equine Stable, went wire-to-wire as a 44-1 longshot at the Spa on July 31 to win an allowance going the Woodward distance, earning a 90 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort. With David Cohen back aboard, the 4-year-old Medaglia d’Oro colt will leave from post position 4 at odds of 30-1.

Tranquil Manner, who also won a 1 1/8th-mile race at Saratoga, steps back into graded stakes company in the Woodward. Fifth in the Grade 2 Brooklyn Handicap at 1 ½ miles, the A.P. Indy colt rallied from last to beat a solid field in an optional claimer on August 11.

“It’s a bit of a stretch,” said Kiaran McLaughlin, who trains Tranquil Manner for Darley Stable. “Obviously, we don’t have any visions of beating Quality Road. But he’s an A.P. Indy colt, and if he hits the board it would help his value as a stallion. Plus, we have 12 seconds this meet, and it would be nice to get 13.”

With Alan Garcia up, Tranquil Manner will leave from post position 6 at 15-1 on the morning line.

Two colts who have tangled with Quality Roadbefore are back for another try – Convocation, who was fourth in the Met Mile on Memorial Day, and 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, who was fifth, beaten 12 ½ lengths, in the Whitney.

Trained by Jimmy Jerkens, who last week won the Grade 1 Travers with Afleet Express, Convocation followed the Met Mile with a second to Haynesfield in the Grade 2 Suburban and a victory in an optional claimer on August 4.

“He has a victory at the distance here,” said Jerkens of Convocation, who breezed a half-mile in 48.66 Tuesday. “You have to think that’s big going into a stakes.”

With Javier Castellano aboard, Convocation drew the rail and was listed at 6-1 on the morning line.

Mine That Bird, who has not won since his 50-1 upset in last year’s Run for the Roses, got a new trainer this spring in Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas. On Saturday, he will get a change of equipment with the addition of blinkers, and a new rider in Rajiv Maragh.

“We needed to move forward,” said Lukas, for whom Mine That Bird is winless in two starts. “The blinkers, the rider change – we weren’t getting results with the way things were.”

The 4-year-old gelding drew post 2 at 10-1 on the morning line.

Mythical Power, trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, makes his East coast debut in the Woodward. The 4-year-old Congaree colt, whose career highlights include victories in the Grade 3 Lone Star Derby in 2009 and the Grade 3 Texas Mile in April, has been stabled at trainer John Terranova’s barn since the middle of August and has worked twice over the main track, most recently turning in a bullet 1:00 1/5 on August 27.

Martin Garcia comes in to ride Mythical Power, 12-1 on the morning line from post 7.

Indian Dance, who finished eighth in his career debut at the Spa last August, returns to Saratoga from the mid-Atlantic, where he was 4-1-0 from eight starts, most recently a fourth in the Majestic Light at MonmouthPark. With Kent Desormeaux up, the 4-year-old Indian Charlie gelding drew post 5 at odds of 20-1.

The field for the Grade 1, $750,000 Woodward: Convocation (6-1), J Castellano; Mine That Bird (10-1), R Maragh; Quality Road (1-4), J R Velazquez; Arcodoro (30-1), D Cohen; Indian Dance (20-1), K J Desormeaux; Tranquil Manner (15-1), A Garcia; and Mythical Power (12-1), M Garcia.

NYRA photo/Quality schooling at the gate

Trainer Will Phipps thought he had a good one in his barn with Fancy Point and she proved him right when the 2-year-old daughter of Point Given led from start to finish in the P.G. Johnson Stakes on the inner turf course Wednesday at Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York.

“We’re very lucky people. We’re honored to have a horse for the Steinbrenners – this one is for the big guy. We felt pretty bullish coming into the race. She comes from a very classy family and she took to the lawn the way we thought she would,” Phipps said.

Fancy Point, under jockey Javier Castellano, was away in good order and responded kindly to Castellano’s rating tactics during the run down the homestretch the first time. She spurted off to an easy lead before completing the half-mile in 48.29. Pleine Forme was three lengths back in second at this point and Lauren Byrd was another half-length back in third.

“She looked like she was on her toes today; very sharp. She set up beautifully in the gate. As soon as they opened the gate, she broke like a shot. BOOM! She got the first jump. I tried to settle her a little bit and I was wishing somebody else could go in the lead just to keep track, but she just galloped along,” Castellano said.
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Will Phipps
Fancy Point gets a bath at the barn of Will Phipps after winning the P.G. Johnson on Wesdnesday at Saratoga.
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Fancy Point continued to gallop along to the three-eighths pole in 1:12.90 and Pleine Forme moved to within a half-length and applied pressure to the leader rounding the second turn.

After feeling Pleine Forme’s pressure at the quarter-pole, Fancy Point shook free entering the stretch and had her three-length lead back. Castellano kept her busy nearing the eighth-pole.

“At the eighth-pole, turning for home, it looked like some horses on the outside were going to go by. But, when I asked her a little bit, she gave it to me and took off again,” Castellano said.

Fancy Point held off a late charge by Kathmanblu and won the mile-and-a-sixteenth race by one-and-a-half-lengths in 1:42.78. Pleine Forme held for third and Lauren Byrd filled out the superfecta.

A happy Phipps said he was only sure of the win after Fancy Point crossed under the wire. “You never know. All sorts of things can happen. My palms were sweaty and I started getting excited inside the sixteenth-pole,” Phipps said.

The trainer was asked if he was worried about the filly’s antics before the race when she balked a little on loading into the gate. “She was on her toes in the paddock, but she’s schooled with this gate crew and they know her, so I wasn’t worried,” he said.

Phipps also was asked if it was the intention to send her to the lead out of the gate. “You don’t need to tell Javier (Castellano) much. He was to judge the pace and ride with confidence. And get the best trip,” Phipps said.

Future plans for Fancy Point are undecided. “We’ll take her home and see how she comes out of the race before we make any decision. It will be a group decision. I’ll talk with Jessica Steinbrenner (Kinsman Stable) and decide what is best for her,” he said.

This was Fancy Point’s second race and her maiden breaker. She was sent off as the third choice in betting after finishing fourth in a six-furlong dirt try on Aug. 1 at Saratoga. In that race she was bumped at the start and blocked at the quarter-pole.

Fancy Point is out of the Rahy mare Fancy Clancy and her distaff family is full of turf stars. She is a half sister to stakes placed Powerchord. Her dam is a half sister to the Grade 1 winning sire Joyeux Dancer, his stakes winning full brother Fabuleux Dancer, and their full sister Danseur Fabuleux, the dam of European Champion, Arazi and his Group 1 winning half brother Noverre. Fancy Clancy also is a half sister to Grade 3 winner Doubles Partner, grand dam of Group 1 winner Eagles Cafe and his multiple Grade 1 winning half sister Let.

The winner paid $9.70, $5.50 and $4.60. The exacta was worth $139 and the trifecta paid $694. The superfecta returned $2,838.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Under a perfect ride from jockey Patrick Valenzuela, longshot Hi Ho Yodeler darted between horses at the top of the stretch and went on to win the featured $100,000 Generous Portion for California-bred two-year-old fillies Wednesday.

Hi Ho Yodeler, a 15-1 outsider in a field of 13 fillies, broke alertly, was moved to the rail to track the leaders, was guided around a single rival,  Miles Rules, in the upper stretch and quickly drew off to win by 3 1/4 lengths in 1:11.51 for six furlongs.

“Is she professional, or what? She broke real sharp and I was able to get her over to the rail. I tracked the leaders around there and when one of those fillies drifted out, there was a hole and my filly went right on through. Thoroughly professional,” Valenzuela said.

Lucky Sis, a 50-1 longshot, rallied belatedly to edge out Miles Rules for second by a neck, with Swiss Wild Cat another 1 1/4 lengths back in fourth place. Perfect Curls, the lukewarm 5-2 favorite, was fifth.

Hi Ho Yodeler, a daughter of Swiss Yodeler owned by Todd Marshall and Andrew Molasky and trained by Mike Harrington, earned $60,000 with her second triumph in six starts. To her backers in a crowd of 11,392, she paid $32, $15.40 and $10.20.Lucky Sis returned $40.40 and $15, while Miles Rules paid $.60 to show.

“I lost sight of her for awhile because I was watching my other filly who was on the rail and easy to track. I caught up with  Hi Ho’ when Trevor started calling her name. I didn’t give Patrick any instructions. You don’t need to do that. He knows how to ride and he gave this filly a Kentucky Derby type of ride, which he can do,” Harrington said.

Hi Ho Yodeler provided Valenzuela, riding at Del Mar for the first time in three years, with his third win of the afternoon.  He also won the opener on Big Revolution and the fourth aboard Silver Squall. He now has 26 winners this summer at Del Mar, third behind Joel Rosario and Rafael Bejarano. Rosario, who won two races Wednesday, leads 45-42 over Bejarano, who averted a blank by taking the nightcap.

The stakes win was the third of the meeting for Valenzuela, but his first in the Generous Portion. He now has 62 stakes wins at Del Mar, tying him with Kent Desormeaux for ninth best all time among shore riders.

The stakes win was the second of the meet for Harrington, but his first in the Generous Portion. He now has five stakes wins at Del Mar.

With no perfect tickets in the Pick Six, Thursday’s program will feature a carryover of $96,154. Post time for the first race is 2 p.m.

Kantharos, a two-time graded stakes winner, suffered a career-ending leg fracture Monday while galloping out following a routine workout at Saratoga Springs in upstate New York it was announced Tuesday.

The son of Lion Heart fractured sesamoids in his left foreleg. He worked five furlongs in 1:03.90 over the Oklahoma training track, but apparently took a bad step galloping out. He was X-rayed after he appear uncomfortable as he was led around the walking ring back at the barn.

“This horse is a magnificent athlete,” said owner Jess Jackson in a statement. “We are stunned, shocked and terribly saddened by this awful event. At the same time we are hoping that this injury will heal completely. At this point, his prognosis for a healthy recovery is good, but in any case, his racing career is over.”

Kantharos was undefeated in three starts with an easy victories in the Saratoga Special on Aug. 16 at Saratoga, the Bashford Manor and a maiden special weight contest. The first two races were run at at Churchill Downs. He won his three starts by a combined 28 1/2 lengths. He had been nominated to the Grade 1 Hopeful on Sept.6. at Saratoga

“This was a tragic and unforeseeable event,” said trainer Steve Asmussen. “The brilliance that he had shown was a foretaste of his limitless potential. Right now we are following his progress closely.”

Jackson said he would release updates regarding the colt’s condition and recovery in the coming months.

NYRA photo

The P.G. Johnson Stakes for two year old fillies will be held over Saratoga’s inner turf course at 1 1/16 miles on Sept. 1. The race has only been contested for three years, but Meadow Breeze, who was second in this race last year, won the Grade 1 Matron. The top finishers in the P.G. Johnson could move forward toward a start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Filly Turf.  Only a few of the fillies have turf experience.

Pleine Forme (Grand Slam – Why Worry, by Cadeaux Genereux) won her debut sprinting over the Tapita. She has breeding for turf and should be able to handle the distance. Her damsire was a champion sprinter two years running in Europe. Her dam started nine times, winning once. The second dam was a Group 3 winner in France.  Pleine Forme’s works are average and the Motion barn wins 22 percent with first timers over the lawn.

Avanta (Dixie Union – Burnished Miss, by Wild Again) gets blinkers despite winning her second start, a maiden claiming race sprinting over dirt. Avanta should have no difficulty distance wise, but her pedigree leans more towards dirt. Her dam won once in 14 starts and was unplaced in her sole foray over the lawn. Burnished Miss is a half sister to the dirt stakes sprinters Bright Launch (Saratoga Special G2), Bright Valor (Hanshin Cup G3) and Burnish (Miss Preakness G3). Avanta does descend from a nice distaff family, but the turf stars are several generations back. Can’t help but think the Pletcher barn is experimenting. Avanta recorded an average five furlong work over the turf and the barn is 0-2 with claimers this year.

Fancy Point (Point Given – Fancy Clancy, by Rahy) had a rough debut wherein she was bumped at the start and blocked at the quarter-pole traveling six furlongs over the Saratoga main track. She still managed to finish fourth. She came out of the race none the worse for wear and recorded a bullet work a week later. Fancy Point has a stellar distaff family full of turf stars. She is a half sister to stakes placed Powerchord. Her dam is a half sister to the Grade 1 winning sire Joyeux Dancer, his stakes winning full brother Fabuleux Dancer, and their full sister Danseur Fabuleux, the dam of European Champion, Arazi and his Group 1 winning half brother Noverre. Fancy Clancy is also a half sister to Grade 3 winner Doubles Partner, Grand dam of Group 1 winner Eagles Cafe and his multiple Grade 1 winning half sister Let.  Fancy Point’s third dam Native Partner and fourth dam Dinner Partner are blue hens. The William Phipps barn has a strong 36 percent winners second time out.

Maria’s Luck (Halo’s Image – Marchella, by King of Kings) Sire was a Grade 3 winner in Florida.  Dam has a 0-3-2- record over the turf and was 3-19 sprinting on dirt. Three is plenty of class three generations back. The third dam Classic Value was a G-3 winning miler and produced the durable stakes horses Patriot Act, Class Kris (dam of Student Counsel and Gradepoint),  Class on Class (dam of Don’t Get Mad and Barkley Sound), and Classic Approval (dam of Approval Rating and Gulch Approval).  Maria’s Luck is the most experienced filly with four starts under her girth. She was trounced 7½ lengths by Avanta before dropping in the maiden claiming ranks for a win. The Cesare barn is 0-7 with first timers over the lawn.

Lauren Byrd (Arch – Strike the Sky, by Smart Strike) nosed out Arch Support for her debut running six furlongs on grass in July. Her breezes since that race have been slower than previous works but she does own a decent last out work over the lawn. Her half brother Hudson Steele won the Jersey Derby (1 1/6 miles turf). Lauren Byrd’s dam won once in four tries in dirt sprints. The second dam was stakes placed and fourth dam What a Treat was a Champion three year old filly. Lauren Byrd is the second entry for the Pletcher barn. Her jockey David Cohen is 6 percent with turf runners.

Kathmanblu   (Bluegrass Cat – Abba Gold, by Devil’s Bag) showed nothing while sprinting over the dirt in her initial start, but found a home on turf winning a mile race by half a length last time out. As noted in the 2010 Guide to Freshmen Sires, her sire is getting winners over all surfaces and Kathmanblu is his first representative over turf. Kathmanblu’s dam was a stakes placed dirt sprinter and a half sister to Grade 1 winner Friendly Michelle. Kathmanblu gets first time Lasix and the McPeek barn gets 27 percent winners with that angle.

Arch Support (Arch – Two Ninety Jones, by Sir Harry Lewis) A $75K Keeneland September yearling, was on the wrong end of a nose bob in her initial start, but came back to win by half a length in her next start. She’s the only filly in the group with a win over this course at today’s race distance. Her damsire, a son of the great Alleged, won the 10 furlong Irish Derby (G1) and was an excellent broodmare sire. Arch Support is a half sister to the stakes placed sprinter Bounding. Her dam was a listed stakes winner and placed in several stakes, all over turf. Arch Support owns a strong five furlong breeze coming into this race, but the Contessa barn is only 9% with horses making their second start at a route. 

Believe in A. P. (A.P. Indy – I believe In You, by Pleasant Tap) was only a half length behind Arch Support over this course and distance last time out.  Her dam was in the money in all four starts and won the Hollywood Starlet. Her promising career was cut short due to injury. Believe in A. P. shows three very good works back from her last start indicating that she could move forward. Trainer Rick Dutrow has a 27 percent win rate for non-graded stakes races.

Dos Lunas placed second in the Junior Champion Stakes at Monmouth Park over the weekend and will likely scratch. Let’s Get Fiscal and Sky Hosoya are entered for the main track only. Clear weather is forecasted.

Let’s Get Fiscal (Bandini – Bouvet, by Touch Gold) was the first winner for her sire. Her dam is a half sister to stakes winner Grand Bank. With Touch Gold as her damsire, this promising filly should love the extra distance. She’ll run only if the race comes off the turf.

Sky Hosoya (Bluegrass Cat – T K O Lady, by Two Punch) was fifth, whipped 10¼ lengths by Let’s Get Fiscal in their debut. Sky Hosoya beat up on maiden claimers next time out by 9¾ lengths. She’ll run only if the race comes off the turf.

Selections:

How the track is playing:  66 percent of the winners this meet have been either pace setters or pace pressers with 22 percent wiring the field. The majority of the winners have come from outside posts. There is no rain forecasted and the inner turf course is expected to be firm.

Arch Support and Believe in A. P. have experience at this distance and both have been working well. Fancy Point has one of the best turf pedigrees in the race and should benefit from the surface switch and distance. Lauren Byrd was beaten only a nose by Arch Support and will appreciate the extra real estate. Kathmanblu gets first time Lasix and beat maidens at Ellis Park. She ships in and tries a tougher group here, but could surprise. Pleine Forme has the breeding for turf, but could have a tough time of it from the inside post position.

Believe in A. P.
Arch Support
Lauren Byrd
Fancy Point – longshot