Before we get into this weekend’s stake races I want to talk a little about the Preakness Stakes last weekend.
Yes, it was a Triple Crown race. Yes, it was the race of the weekend. But honestly, it had to be the most uneventful Triple Crown race I have ever seen.
There’s usually a buzz surrounding a Triple Crown race where the suspense builds right up to when the gates open and the horses burst out for the race.
That wasn’t there. Not even close. There were some nice horses in the race such as winner Napoleon Solo, Iron Honor, and Chip Honcho, but that’s it – nice.
I mean a lot of the talk of the race fell on Ocelli, a maiden horse that has not won a race yet. That should never happen that a horse that is winless is getting the brunt of the prerace analysis for a race the stature of a Triple Crown event.
The favorite race was Taj Mahal, a horse whose home is Laurel Park, and he had run well there so people ended up making him the favorite? That alone should tell you the quality of the field.
Sadly, I think this could become the norm for the Preakness unless changes are made with the time between the Derby and the Preakness.
I was a traditionalist and never wanted to see the structure of the Triple Crown changed, but it hard not to adapt to where we are with the horse racing industry.
The top horses are not bred to run three times in five weeks in this day. So, we have two Triple Crown systems moving forward – make a note of that.
We need the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May, the Preakness on the first Saturday in June, and the Belmont on the first Saturday in July. The public will embrace a Triple Crown winner, going for it all right around the Fourth of July weekend.
America loves a party and this would be one for sure!
It’s time for change or to be ready to suffer through what we did last weekend.
The good news now is the early possibles for the Belmont Stakes on June 6 looks to be promising to be a race worthy of a Triple Crown race.
Alright, let’s turn to the upcoming weekend. There are plenty of stake races across the United States, but I am going to look at two running at Santa Anita as races to watch in Cal-bred races.
Santa Anita
The Melair
(7th race, 4 p.m.)
Part of the Golden State series, this one is for 3-year-old fillies going 1-1/16-miles on the main track at Santa Anita. There’s a couple of interesting runners here that are stepping out of their comfort zones for this race.
Run With Liberty (Jeff Mullins, Kyle Frey) has run two races and has won twice – both by three lengths. The first was against straight maidens and the second in a $50,000 optional claimer on April 24 at Santa Anita. She closed in the first race, then pushed the pace in the second start and both came at one mile so while stepping up in class, the distance should not be a problem. The big change – the first two races were on the turf so it will be interesting to see how she handles the change of surfaces.
Mohaven (John Sadler, Emisael Jaramillo) has won three of six career starts but all have been sprints and this is a route. She has closed strong, winning the Evening Jewel on April 4, drawing off to win by five lengths at 6.5 furlongs. She will be one pushing or on the lead and she always appears strong in the lane.
Holdthatrainbow (Carla Gaines, Florent Geroux) has one start on April 18n and that was a 6.5 furlong straight maiden race where she stalked the pace, turned it on in the lane, and pulled out the win. She had a crazy good work on May 17 and if she handles the surface and the increase in distance, she will be a huge threat. Only has one start but the field is not that deep and talented. Perhaps a value play?
The Snow Chief
(8th race, 4:30 p.m.)
This one has the 3-year-old boys going 1-1/8-miles on the main track. There are ten horses entering this spot.
Ventry Strand (John Sadler, Antonio Fresu) has the best recent form, with a win and two seconds in his last three starts. All three starts he closed and they all came in optional claimers. The last two came at distance after moving up from sprints in his previous four starts.
Fionello (Steve Knapp, TJ Pereira) has the best last race, taking the Echo Eddie on April 4 at 19/1. Before then he ran well in two optional claimers. He has run several state-bred stake races but they didn’t result in a quality finish until the Echo Eddie. This will be only his third start in 10 efforts where he is routing. Not sure what to make of this one but maybe a value play if we get double digit odds.
He’s a Knockout (Carla Gaines, Juan Hernandez) has the lowest number of career starts with just two. Both are wins with his debut coming last August where he took down a straight maiden race by over four lengths. He went to the shelf until April 19 when he came back with a three-length win in a $50,000 optional claimer. Both starts have been wire to wire and with straight big works he looks sharp at this spot.