Weather watchers rejoice, this is your weekend.
A monster blast of winter weather is forecast all over the East, from Virginia and the Carolinas in the South all the way up to Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Long Island and most of New England to the North. In the way are several racing programs, one of which already canceled (Aqueduct) with others doing a play-by-ear approach.
No such (bad) luck in South Florida with Pegasus Day on tap and clear albeit cool skies at Gulfstream Park for the biggest day of the young year. Knicks Go and Life Is Good in the headliner, just like the promoters hoped, and a stellar undercard to boot. Everyone will be watching, especially those on the East Coast not in the mood for more shoveling.
The Saturday Special sets the stage for the big day, with all your usual favorites and of course handicapping from the team at The Saratoga Special. Who does John Shapazian like in the Pegasus? How about the fast-starting Jessica Paquette? The picks, along with some other Plays of the Day from Sean Clancy, are below.
Stay safe out there friends.
Riverdee Stable Names of the Day
Hydroplane. Cheltenham. Race 1. The 6-year-old is out of Walk On Water.
Pied Piper. Cheltenham. Race 2. The chestnut hurdler is out of Pure Fantasy.
Hit The Road. Gulfstream Park. Race 11. The California shipper is by More Than Ready out of Highway Mary.
Cook The Books. Charles Town. Race 1. The 5-year-old mare is out of Funky C. P. A.
Thoroughbred Racing Calendar Plays of the Day
Doncaster. Race 6. Debece makes his return. Another return for the 10-year-old. We’ll take 8-1 on the talented, albeit fragile, veteran.
Laurel. Race 4. If you get anywhere near the 10-1 Morning Line on Good Life Cider. Take it.
Worth Repeating
“The jocks on the other horses have to go into chase mode and by the time they get to the quarter pole, he’s still kind of cruising along. They can’t catch him.”
Trainer Brad Cox on Pegasus favorite Knicks Go
“He’s doing great. If you watched this horse train you’d have no concerns about anything.”
Trainer Todd Pletcher on Capital OTB’s Racing Across America with Seth Merrow about Pegasus contender and Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Life Is Good
“I was numb for three days after that.”
Chris Pallas, co-owner and co-breeder of Pegasus Filly and Mare Turf contender Shifty She after the mare won the Grade 3 Noble Damsel last fall at Belmont Park
“She’s just a class act. She’s really a kind hose to be around. Some owners bring their little kids around and she’ll come up and nuzzle them. She doesn’t have a mean bone in her body.”
John Kimmel on Pacific Gale, who makes her final start in Saturday’s Grade 2 Inside Information at Gulfstream
“There are some nice horses in here, obviously. You hang $750,000 up and there’s going to be some people show up wanting it.”
Trainer Ron Moquett, who runs Osbourne in Saturday’s Grade 3 Southwest at Oaklawn Park
“He could be the most docile horse, but he can also be very mean. You never really know what you’re going to get with him, but he’s pretty cool to be around. He’s always been kind of a character, but we’re just very grateful to have him.”
Nick Tomlinson, assistant to trainer Mark Casse, about 2019 Belmont Stakes winner and Pegasus longshot threat Sir Winston
“It’s zero, zero handicap. If anything, it may be even a bonus. I’m good with it. In route racing post is probably overrated.”
Cox on Knicks Go drawing post 1 for the Pegasus
“People don’t send me horses that could to go to Dubai. I had to raise one, which is crazy. I got to make every call in this horse’s career and it makes me feel good that we got this far.”
Michelle Lovell, trainer, co-owner and co-breeder of multiple stakes winner and Al Quoz Sprint possible contender Just Might
“I’ve come from the bottom. I got lucky with my agent and all the people who have helped me. I love to win races. I keep working hard. When I got here, I got a lot of opportunities.”
Former Penn National-based jockey Edwin Gonzalez, who rides all three Pegasus races Saturday at Gulfstream
By the Numbers
14: Entries for Todd Pletcher on the Pegasus World Cup Day at Gulfstream Park
725,000: Dollars to the winner of this weekend’s 23rd NTRA National Horseplayers Championship in Las Vegas.
129: Rating for Knicks Go to earn the Longines World’s Best Racehorse title during the ninth edition of the Longines World Racing Awards. The likely Horse of the Year finished 2 points ahead of Adayar, Mischriff and St Mark’s Basilica.
124.75: Rating for last year’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe to earn the Longines World’s Best Horse Race honor.
3: Titles as Longines World’s Best Jockey of the year for Ryan Moore, who also won in 2014 and 2016. That title is based on performanes in the 100 highest-rated Group or Grade 1 races.
Handicapper’s Corner – Pegasus Day picks
John Shapazian (3/24):
1-Yamato, Light Fury, Town Classic.
2-Beyond Best, Montauk Point, Practical Way.
3-Traffic Song, Star Seeking, Song Of Innocence.
4-Swing Shift, Positive Review, Congressman.
5-Always Shopping, Beautiful Lover, Hungry Kitten.
6-Telephone Talker, Frosted Over, Fighting Force.
7-Abaan, Temple, King Cause.
8-Jakarta, AG Indy, Just One Time.
9-Regal Glory, Sweet Melania, Lady Speightspeare.
10-Speaker’s Corner, Fearless, Liam.
11-Colonel Liam, Sacred Life, Space Traveller.
12-Knicks Go, Life Is Good, Chess Chief.
Tom Law (6/24):
1-Yamato, Light Fury, Town Classic.
2-Happy Boy Rocket, Make Way, Beyond Best.
3-Champagne Lady, Star Seeking, Traffic Song.
4-Congressman, Bourbon Heist, Mackillop.
5-Always Shopping, Honor Hop, Beautiful Lover.
6-Frosted Over, Fancy Liquor, Wolfie’s Dynaghost.
7-Abaan, King Cause, Temple.
8-Just One Time, Jakarta, Four Graces.
9-Regal Glory, Sweet Melania, Lady Speightspeare.
10-Fearless, Speaker’s Corner, Liam.
11-Colonel Liam, Sacred Life, Field Pass.
12-Knicks Go, Life Is Good, Sir Winston.
Charles Bedard (5/24):
1-Town Classic, Light Fury, Yamato.
2-Beyond Best, Happy Boy Rocket, Montauk Point.
3-Gladys, Lucy’s Cakes Fly, Earth Strike.
4-Positive Strike, Bourbon Heist, Congressman.
5-Always Shopping, Sister Otoole, Honor Hop.
6-Frosted Over, Mischief Afoot, Telephone Talker.
7-Glynn County, Baja Breeze, Abadan.
8-Crumb Bun, Jakarta, Four Graces.
9-Regal Glory, Lady Speightspeare, Nicest.
10-Fearless, Liam, Speaker’s Corner.
11-Never Surprised, Sacred Life, Hit The Road.
12-Knicks Go, Life Is Good, Sir Winston.
Rob Whitlock (5/24):
1-Yamato, Ambassador Jim, Light Fury.
2-Beyond Best, Montauk Point, Complete Agenda.
3-Champagne Lady, Lucy’s Cakes Fly, Traffic Song.
4-Positive Review, Congressman, Surpassing.
5-Beautiful Lover, Hungry Kitten, Always Shopping.
6-Frosted Over, Telephone Talker, Fancy Liquor.
7-Abaan, Bakers Bay, Temple.
8-Jakarta, Just One Time, Dance d’Oro.
9-Alms, Regal Glory, Nicest.
10-Speaker’s Corner, Fearless, Officiating.
11-Field Pass, Doswell, Sacred Life.
12-Life Is Good, Knicks Go, Chess Chief.
Jessica Paquette (8/24):
1-Light Fury, American Ninja, Small Hope.
2-Consulate, Montauk Point, Beyond Best.
3-Song Of Innocence, Champagne Lady, Star Seeking.
4-Swing Shift, No Nay Franklin, Mackillop.
5-Sister Otoole, Scarabea, Always Shopping.
6-Frosted Over, Wolfie’s Dynaghost, Mischief Afoot.
7-Baker’s Bay, Abaan, In Effect.
8-Jakarta, A G Indy, Just One Time.
9-Lady Speightspeare, Bipartisanship, Alms.
10-Speaker’s Corner, Bon Raison, Fearless.
11-Hit The Road, Channel Cat, Colonel Liam.
12-Knicks Go, Life Is Good, Chess Chief.
The Special goes to Vegas, again (sort of)
The team behind The Saratoga Special and This Is Horse Racing are again among the competitors in the eighth annual NTRA NHC Charity Challenge presented by Four Roses Bourbon.
Sean Clancy and Joe Clancy, co-founders, co-publishers and co-editors of ST Publishing Inc., and Tom Law, ST Publishing’s managing editor, are in the field of approximately 75 competing for the $5,000 charitable prize Saturday. The winner earns a $2,500 donation in their name to the charity of their choice and $2,5000 in their name to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.
The Special’s trio and the other players will make selections from the eight races determined by the contest organizers. The races, with post times (ET) are:
- • Gulfstream Park. Race 5 (Grade 3 La Prevoyante Stakes). 1:27 p.m.
- • Gulfstream Park. Race 6. 1:57 p.m.
- • Gulfstream Park. Race 7 (Grade 3 W. L. McKnight Stakes). 2:31 p.m.
- • Gulfstream Park. Race 8 (Grade 2 Inside Information Stakes). 3:03 p.m.
- • Santa Anita Park. Race 1. 3:30 p.m.
- • Tampa Bay Downs. Race 9. 4:25 p.m.
- • Gulfstream Park. Race 11 (Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf). 4:49 p.m.
- • Gulfstream Park. Race 12 (Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup). 5:34 p.m.
As for the races…
Cheltenham. Race 1. 7:15 a.m. Unseasonably quick ground at play for Trials Day. The opener attracts a dozen solid handicap hurdlers. We’ve always liked Hydroplane.
Cheltenham. Race 2. 7:45. Pied Piper fetched 225,000 guineas at Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale in October. He made it look easy in his hurdle debut at Punchestown. Iceo made it look easier in a 17-length jaunt in his British debut at Kempton.
Doncaster. Race 3. 8:35. The Grade 2 Lightning Novices’ Chase attracts just three but packs the ammo with Third Time Lucki, Do Your Job and For Pleasure.
Doncaster. Race 4. 9:10. Miranda should defend her title in the Grade 2 Sky Best Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle. Regular rider Harry Cobden goes to Cheltenham, Bryony Frost deputizes.
Cheltenham. Race 5. 9:30. Chantry House headlines the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase. The nine-time winner had his win streak snapped when pulling up in the King George VI at Kempton in December. The Nicky Henderson Festival winner takes on four rivals.
Doncaster. Race 5. 9:45. Seems like Bridge North should win the River Don, right?
Cheltenham. Race. 6. 10:05. Nicky Henderson comes right back with 1-2 Champ in the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle. The one-time chaser got back to winning in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot in December. Young Jonjo O’Neill Jr. keeps the ride on the 10-year-old. Stayers’ Hurdle winners Paisley Park and Lisnagar Oscar try to recapture their best form.
Doncaster. Race 6. 10:20. We loved Debece back when he was with Tim Vaughan. Now, he’s back for his second start – and after his second win surgery – for Dan and Harry Skelton.
Cheltenham. Race 7. 10:40. Hillcrest rides a four-race win streak into the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle for Henry Daly. Enjoy watching the iconic emerald green and yellow quarters of the late Trevor Hemmings.
Gulfstream Park. Race 1. 11:30. Pegasus Day starts with 9-furlong starter handicap on the Tapeta.
Gulfstream. Race 2. 11:59. Good luck in this 1 1/16-mile maiden for 3-year-olds.
Gulfstream. Race 3. 12:28 p.m. Glad the weather cooperated this year for grass races like this – a 1 1/16-mile optional with a full field of 12.
Gulfstream. Race 4. 12:57. The Hidden Scroll race from a few years’ back – 7-furlong maiden for 3-year-olds. Bourbon Heist made an appearance in last year’s Fasig-Tipton Stable Tour with Ian Wilkes. He also finished fourth in the Grade 3 Iroquois, as a maiden. Will start No. 6 do the trick?
Laurel Park. Race 3. 1:10. The weather has the stellar card on the ropes in Maryland. If it does go, set your clock to Cordmaker. The veteran should handle six foes in the Jennings.
Gulfstream. Race 5. 1:27. The Grade 3 La Prevoyante starts the stakes. We could talk about the contenders led by Always Shopping, Beautiful Lover and others but we’re in awe looking at La Prevoyante’s PPs. How about this record, 25-for-39 with five seconds and three thirds. Started her career with a dozen straight wins, including the Schuylerville and Spinaway at Saratoga, not to mention the Fleur de Lys at Blue Bonnets.
Laurel. Race 4. 1:39. Kiss The Girl drops back to state-bred competition in the Geisha.
Gulfstream. Race 7. 2:31. Another long one on the grass, the Grade 3 W. L. McKnight. Abaan shortens up after winning the 2-mile H. Allen Jerkens while Mike Maker sends out Glynn County, King Cause and Media Blitz for type of stakes he always seems to win.
Oaklawn Park. Race 4. 2:32. Como Square is undefeated. Optionality has won her last three, including two stakes. Secret Oath won her most recent start by 8 1/4 lengths. These three, and three other 3-year-old fillies, rumble in the Martha Washington.
Laurel. Race 6. 2:39. Wow, H P Moon looked good back in April. The son of Malibu Moon makes his second start here for trainer Lacey Gaudet, taking on a full field in the Spectacular Bid. Caravel’s little brother, Witty, tries to make it three in a row for owner/breeder Lizzie Merryman and her son McLane Hendriks.
Gulfstream. Race 8. 3:03. Pacific Gale returns to defend title in Grade 2 Inside Information in what also will be her finale. She’ll meet tough task with Four Graces, Jakarta, Just One Time, Dance d’Oro and A G Indy in the field.
Laurel. Race 7. 3:11. Luna Belle tries to make it two stakes wins in a row in the Xtra Heat.
Gulfstream. Race 9. 3:36. The Grade 3 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf, new to the program this year, attracts nice group of 11 led by Regal Glory and Sweet Melania.
Laurel. Race 8. 3:41. Shippers Regal Retort (Steve Asmussen), Time Limit (Mike Maker) and Don’t Call Me Mary (Pletcher) look like they’ll take the money and run in the What A Summer.
Laurel. Race 9. 4:09. When a lot of things haven’t gone right in Maryland lately, this card is a gem. If it goes. The Fire Plug keeps the hits spinning.
Gulfstream. Race 10. 4:12. Fearless is just that at Gulfstream, with a record of 4-for-5 and a second coming into the Grade 3 Fred W. Hooper presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa. He’ll be tough against Speaker’s Corner, off since his close second in the Discovery Nov. 27 at Aqueduct.
Gulfstream. Race 11. 4:49. Remember what we said before about Mike Maker? He’s loaded here in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf presented by Baccarat with Field Pass, Atone, Flavius and our old New York-bred friend Cross Border. Those four meet eight others for $1 million, a group led by defending champ Colonel Liam, Tropical Park Derby winner Never Surprised, Southern California shipper Hit The Road, Sacred Life and Channel Cat.
Santa Anita Park. Race 4. 5:10. Sadler and Mandella take on a Baffert trio in the San Vicente.
Oaklawn. Race 9. 5:22. Another rung up – or down – the ladder to Louisville. A dozen 3-year-olds clash in the $750,000 Southwest Stakes.
Gulfstream. Race 12. 5:34. The main event, the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational presented by 1/ST Bet. Knicks Go or Life Is Good? Life Is Good or Knicks Go? That’s the consensus. Our handicappers (see above) favor Knicks Go in his final start. He won it last year and will be tough on the lead. Price? How about Sir Winston, he seems to have found his way again after synthetic success at Woodbine to close 2021.
Oaklawn. Race 10. 5:55. John Velazquez picks up the ride on California shipper Collusion Illusion for the King Cotton. Nine-time winner Hollis never looked better than in his most recent start, a romp against allowance foes.
Fair Grounds. Race 8. 6:20. Longtime jocks’ agent Fred Aime would have liked the full field of turf fillies and mares in the first running of the Frederick P. Aime Memorial.
Santa Anita. Race 7. 6:52. Burgoo Alley returns to the turf in the Megahertz.
Santa Anita. Race 8. 7:22. What a day of stakes. Grade 3 winner Cezanne returns in the Palos Verdes.
Golden Gate Fields. Race 8. 7:37. The undefeated Becca Taylor steps out of state-bred races in her return.
Turfway Park. Race 4. 7:46. Love the 10-furlong allowance for fillies and mares. The $64,000 race overfilled. Hint, hint to the racing offices around the country.
Turfway. Race 5. 8:14. Bullseye Beauty aims for two straight stakes for Andrew “Bull” McKeever in the Wishing Well.
