Before getting to the highlighted races this week, it’s time to pay tribute to a horse that was retired last week.
Journalism, who was a major part of all three Triple Crown races last year, was retired following an injury he suffered July 18 in the San Diego Handicap.
The last race was symbolic of his entire, short career. Journalism was as gutsy a racehorse as you could find and he showed it at Del Mar.
He missed the start and was injured coming out of the gate, 5-6 lengths back of the field. No one knew of the injury at the time but got to see him circle the field and bring home the win in the San Diego.
The injury was discovered after the race, and the decision was made to retire Journalism rather that face a worse injury.
Last year he won the Santa Anita Derby, making him one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby. There he turned in another gutsy race finishing second to Sovereignty. The Derby winner skipped the Preakness, but Journalism didn’t and ended up winning the race.
He ran in the Belmont Stakes and was second to Sovereignty again. He went on to win the Haskell and then was fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, the lone time in his 14 starts he didn’t finish in the top three.
He turned out to be one my favorite horses of all time, joining my stable of Point Given, Bodemeister, Sierra Leone, and Pistols and Roses – horses I loved to watch race every time they started.
Journalism will now be sent to stud at Ashford Stud, and I look forward to the day I can see his offspring take to the track.
Big Stake Day
There are big stake races across the United States today, running at Saratoga, Colonial Downs, and Del Mar.
At the spa the Grade II Jim Dandy takes place for 3-year-olds, along with a look at next year’s Derby crop in the Saratoga Special.
Colonial Downs has eight stake races, highlighted by the Grade I Arlington Million, and the Grade I Clement Hirsch highlights action at Del Mar.
Saratoga
Grade II Saratoga Special
(6th race, 12:20 p.m. PDT)
It’s one of those way too early races for 2-year-olds where we can speculate as to possible Kentucky Derby favorites. There are three horses that entered that have all of one start.
At this early point, there are three horses that interest me.
Twinkle Town (Kenny McPeek, Jose Ortiz) took on straight maidens on June 27 at Churchill Downs in the slop and wired the field. He broke in the lead and fought to keep it through the first half. After that he drew off and won over six lengths in the slop. He came back and had a big work on July 18 and another quick one on July 24. The question will be if he handles a fast track.
Booked (Steve Asmussen, Ricardo Santana) is most experienced horse in the race with three starts. After a second in his debut on April 28 against straight maidens at 4.5 furlongs at Churchill Downs, he came back on June 7 at Saratoga to take down another straight maiden field at 5.5 furlongs, taking the lead at the top of the stretch then holding on by a length. One month later he won the Grade III Sanford at six lengths by over six lengths, wiring the field in the process. Appears to prefer being on or near the lead.
Flight Command (Rudy Rodriguez, Flavien Prat) started his first race June 25 at Aqueduct at 5.5 furlongs against straight maidens. He broke strong and kept going, winning the race by over 10 lengths as the favorite. His 84 Beyer that day was the best debut mark in the field. Had two nice moves in the morning for this spot.
Grade II Jim Dandy
(10th race, 2:44 p.m.)
There are only five horses running here but three of them took part in Triple Crown races, with all three hitting the board in those races.
Here is a look at those three.
Chip Honcho (Steve Asmussen, Jose Ortiz) was third in the Preakness on May 16, pretty much running even throughout the race. He came back on June 20 and won the Ohio Derby, entering the stretch in third, then went 4-wide to win the race by a length. He usually sits mid-pack before making his run late.
Renegade (Todd Pletcher, Irad Ortiz) he was second in the Kentucky Derby, losing by a neck. He then came back five weeks later and was third in the Belmont Stakes. He has four starts this year, with two wins, a second, and a third. The two wins came in the Sam F Davis and the Arkansas Derby. He has been off since the Belmont but has been busy in the morning, turning in a consistent work tab.
Commandment (Brad Cox, Flavien Prat) was seventh in the Derby and second in the Belmont. I gave him a pass in the Derby as he ran into trouble trying to past 13 horses in the lane. I thought he was the horse to beat in the Belmont and he ran a great race but couldn’t get past Derby and Belmont winner Golden Tempo. Throws the blinkers on for this one and has been strong in the mornings. I still am a big fan of this horse and expect to see him in the Travers at the end of August.
Colonial Downs
Grade I Arlington Million
(11th race, 2:52 p.m.)
One of the iconic turf races each year has nine horses entered to take on the 1-1/4-mile race. The defending champ is back in the field to defend his title.
Dresden Row (Todd Pletcher, Tyler Gaffalione, 7/2) has won two of three starts this year with the two wins coming in an allowance effort and a $175,000 optional claimer. The last start was the Grade II Wise Dan on June 27 at Churchill where was third at 7/2. All three starts were on the turf.
Fort Washington (Claude McGaughey, Javier Castellano, 5/1) is the defending champion of the race after he survived a bump early to rally and win the race at almost 6/1. He’s run five times since then and has been off the board in four of them. Two back he won the Grade III Dinner Party on May 16 at Laurel Park. After that he was seventh in the Wise Dan.
Burnham Square (Ian Wilkes, Brian Hernandez Jr., 5/2) is certainly in the best form, winning his last three starts and earning a 100-plus Beyer in each race. On April 18 he won the Grade II Elkhorn at Keeneland, stalking early before kicking into gear and winning by over nine lengths. On May 16 he was the winner of the Grade III Louisville at Churchill by over four lengths. He is a stalker with good closing speed and has been getting it done in the mornings as well.
Mercante (Brian Knippingberg, Florent Geroux, 12/1) is my value play in this one. He was second in the Wise Dan and then two back he was second in the Grade III Kentucky Cup Classic at Turfway Park. He does not have a win in three starts this year but that’s why we are getting double digit odds. He’s run well and beaten some in this race.
Del Mar
Grade I Clement L. Hirsh
(10th race, 6:30 p.m.)
This one has fillies and mares going 1-1/16-miles on the main track. There are nine horses set to run here, with four drawing my interest.
Chasten (Brad Cox, Florent Geroux) has three wins in four starts this year. The lone loss was two back in the Grade I La Troienne at Churchill where he was fifth, beaten six lengths at 12/1. The three wins came in an allowance and two non-graded stake races. The latest was the $150,000 Obeah Stakes at Delaware Park where he was close early, then blew doors and won by over six lengths as the ½ favorite. Now she ships west for the first time.
Majestic Oops (Phil D’Amato, Joel Rosario) has had a good year so far with two wins and two shows in four starts. She has been third in the last two, the Grade I Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park on April 11 and the Grade II Shawnee at Churchill on May 30. She has been off since then but has been consistent and strong in the mornings for the return.
Simply Joking (Michael McCarthy, Emisael Jarmillo) has seen nothing but graded races this year and has a win and a second in three starts. Two back on April 19 she won the Grade III Santa Maria at Santa Anita, then was second in the Grade II Santa Margarita on May 30, also at Santa Anita. A big speed factor here, as if she doesn’t have the lead early, she will be pushing the pace.
Seismic Beauty (Bob Baffert, Juan Hernandez) has had one start this year and was third in the Santa Margarita, beaten by two horses entered here. She is the defending champ as the favorite last year when she wired the field, earning a 110 Beyer. She won three of six starts last year, with all three coming in a row. The workouts have been solid and deserves a long look here.