The signs of the pending winter season are everywhere. Leaves are gone from the trees, Christmas trees are being toted around town on the roofs of cars and in the beds of pickups, holiday lights are up or going up, Black Friday is in the books and public tree lighting events going on from coast to coast.
There are plenty in the racing world, too, namely the opening of Gulfstream Park’s Championship Meet and the accompanying Claiming Crown, Turfway Park’s holiday meet, the closing of Del Mar’s Bing Crosby meet and some of the last few turf races of the year in New York and Maryland. All of those and more are covered in this week’s Saturday Special presented by Pin Oak Stud, home of Alternation, Broken Vow and Cowboy Cal.
Take a break from the holiday festivities and preparations, take a spot on the sofa, fire up the ADW account and enjoy another solid day of racing action. Here’s your primer for Saturday, December 3. Take care, be safe and good luck.
Wetherby. Race 2. 7:40 a.m. What in the world is Gavin Sheehan riding at Wetherby and not Sandown or Aintree? Oh, right, he’s riding 2015 World Hurdle winner Cole Harden in his chase debut.
Fairyhouse. Race 3. 7:55. The last time Davy Russell sat on Dandridge, they nearly took the Red Rum Chase at Aintree. And the time before that, they nearly took the Grand Annual at Cheltenham. Here they try to win the Easyfix Handicap Chase for one of the greats, Arthur Moore.
Aintree. Race 4. 8:35. The Last Samuri, second in the Grand National in April, makes his second start off the bench, tackling the National Course again in the Betfred Becher Handicap Chase. Wow, what a race, 24 converge.
Chepstow. Race 3. 8:40. Geordie Des Champs seeks his fourth win in a row for Rebecca Curtis, Richard Johnson and J.P. McManus.
Sandown. Race 4. 8:55. Nothing like new novice chasers. Altior, winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, makes his second start over fences, taking on three rivals in the Grade 1 Racing Post Henry VIII Novices’ Chase. Promise? All four runners won their most recent starts.
Sandown. Race 5. 9:25. French-breds have changed the game forever in Britain. Indietor makes his British debut after winning twice over hurdles at Auteuil.
Aintree. Race 6. 9:40. Well, hello, old friend. Many Clouds, winner of the 2015 Grand National, makes his seasonal reappearance.
Sandown. Race 6. 10:00. One of our sport’s greatest exports, Tingle Creek, wowed National Hunt Racing in the early 1970s. As his jockey, Steve Smith-Eccles said in The Racing Post, “He met them right, long or effing long!” There will be plenty of those spots offered by the likes of Sire De Grugy, God’s Own, Ar Mad and Un De Sceaux.
Aintree. Race 7. 10:15. Another one over the National Course, 17 rumble for a $103,000 purse.
Chepstow. Race 6. 10:20. The Coral Welsh Grand National Trial. Nothing like the chase course at Chepstow and nothing like watching veterans tackle it. One of these days, Horatio Hornblower is going to have his day.
Sandown. Race 7. 10:30. Veteran chasers close the card.
Gulfstream Park. Race 1. Noon. The Championship Meet opens in South Florida with 7 1/2-furlong maiden special weight on the grass for 2-year-old fillies.
Gulfstream. Race 2. 12:30 p.m. Todd Pletcher won training title at the last Championship Meet by 16 wins. He sends out two – Le Pin and Expedition – in 7-furlong maiden.
Aqueduct. Race 2. 12:49. Opportunities for turf are dwindling on the NYRA circuit. Here’s a 1-mile maiden race for older horses.
Gulfstream. Race 3. 1:00. Elia rides four-race win streak – one that dates to maiden-breaking score for $12,5000 when claimed for the first time this year in January – into $110,000 Claiming Crown Distaff Dash.
Gulfstream. Race 4. 1:30. Shaft Of Light, dominating winner two back but off the board at 1-5 in similar spot, is 8-5 choice for $110,000 Claiming Crown Rapid Transit.
Wolverhampton. Race 4. 1:45. Well, what do you know, we might have found a son of Frankel who can’t run a hole in the wind. Khattar has only beaten two horses in two tries, he switches to the all-weather for Al Shaqab and Hugo Palmer.
Aqueduct. Race 4. 1:47. Jimmy Toner was high on Momentiempo, half sister to Grade 1 winner Time And Motion, in his Fasig-Tipton Stable Tour last summer. Daughter of Medaglia d’Oro ran well in early September debut on the dirt at Saratoga and looks to graduate in 1 1/16-mile maiden on the grass.
Parx Racing. Race 5. 2:13. Downhill Racer, Indominus Rex and The Gemini Man all impressed in debut victories and look to take the next step in $100,000 Pennsylvania Nursery going 7 furlongs.
Gulfstream. Race 5. 2:00. Moonshine Promise back to defend title in $110,000 Claiming Crown Glass Slipper for fillies and mares going 1 mile.
Gulfstream. Race 6. 2:30. Defer Heaven is 5-for-6 at Gulfstream – the lone loss against open company in last spring’s Sir Shackleton – and looks tough in $110,000 Claiming Crown Express at 6 furlongs.
Wolverhampton. Race 6. 2:45. One thing about England, you can always find your distance. Handicappers stretch 1 ¾-miles here. Erhaaf, a son of Street Sense, could be rounding to the task.
Aqueduct. Race 6. 2:45. Ron Moquett let Whitmore “just be a horse” in the summer and after strong spring campaign that ended with disappointing 19th in Kentucky Derby. Son of Pleasantly Perfect is ready for a race, and Oaklawn doesn’t open for a month, so Moquett ships north for 6 ½-furlong allowance.
Gulfstream. Race 7. 3:01. Racetrack Romance, the winner of five of his last six starts, drew post No. 12 for $110,000 Claiming Crown Iron Horse. Another major player, Goodtimehadbyall, drew even worse in post No. 14.
Tampa Bay Downs. Race 7. 3:19. The road to the Tampa Bay Derby – which won’t be run until March 11 – starts with the $100,000 Inaugural. Obvious One, a $5,500 yearling who is 2-for-2 at Thistledown, looks to take the next step for trainer Jason DaCosta.
Gulfstream. Race 8. 3:32. Turf sprinters take their turn in $110,000 Claiming Crown Canterbury.
Fair Grounds. Race 3. 3:23. Full field of 14 for 5 1/2-furlong turf allowance for older females. Not surprisingly most are coming from Kentucky although May Flowers carries the torch for New York and Jeremiah Englehart.
Aqueduct. Race 8. 3:43. Bar Of Gold blasted overmatched opposition in Empire Distaff last time and returns to graded company for Grade 3 Go For Wand Handicap. Good field also includes Wonder Gal and High Ridge Road.
Tampa Bay. Race 8. 3:48. Naifah, fourth in the P. G. Johnson at Saratoga and third as 7-10 favorite in turf maiden at Keeneland, tries again in 1-mile maiden race for Graham Motion.
Laurel Park. Race 8. 4:00. Coltimus Prime, winner of 2014 Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie, makes first start for Keith Nations in 1-mile allowance that also draws Flash McCaul.
Gulfstream. Race 9. 4:03. What you see is what you get with Daddy’s Boo, who likes the front end and could be tough to handle in $125,000 Claiming Crown Tiara.
Tampa Bay. Race 9. 4:20. The fillies take their turn in $100,000 Sandpiper.
Fair Grounds. Race 5. 4:23. Full Tap tried Miss Ella, Fair Point and Smoke Signals last time in Grade 3 turf sprint at Keeneland. Daughter of Tapit doesn’t face those type in $50,000 Battle of New Orleans going 5 1/2 on the grass.
Gulfstream. Race 10. 4:34. Royal Posse is in the midst of stellar season again and he looks to defend title in $200,000 Claiming Crown Jewel. New York-bred son of Posse won Empire Classic last time after back-to-back stakes wins going 9 furlongs at Saratoga. John Jones rides four-race win streak and carries torch for Team Gaudet.
Woodbine. Race 8. 4:43. Vanish, 2-year-old son of Algorithms who broke maiden in Clarendon Stakes last month, is one of three for trainer Mark Casse in $125,000 Display.
Hawthorne Race Course. Race 7. 4:55. Illinois-bred 2-year-old fillies stretch out to 1 1/16 miles for $50,000 Pat Whitworth Illinois Debutante. Jolee, daughter of Lemon Drop Kid who blitzed maidens sprinting in debut Oct. 8, should handle the extra distance.
Gulfstream. Race 11. 5:05. The finale on the card is $125,000 Claiming Crown Emerald going 1 1/16 miles on the turf. Keystoneforvictory exits three straight open-company stakes, including the Grade 3 Kent, while Cammack tries to bounce back from fourth at Keeneland that ended six-race win streak for Team Block. Don’t sleep on Chuck Simon and Aire Bueno, who loves the course.
Fair Grounds. Race 7. 5:23. In case you missed the turf sprints early on the card, here’s an open version with another field of 14.
Fair Grounds. Race 8. 5:53. Two-turn dirt allowance gives trainers chance to see who’s ready to take the next step.
Del Mar. Race 6. 6:00. Vale Dori, third two back behind Stellar Wind and Beholder in Grade 1 Zenyatta, bounced back with victory in Santa Anita allowance and returns to top company in Grade 2 Bayakoa.
Turfway Park. Race 1. 6:15. First Saturday card of the long haul in Northern Kentucky gets started with $5,000 claimer going 1 mile.
Fair Grounds. Race 9. 6:23. Most of the players you’d expect with starters in two-turn 2-year-old maiden on the main track – Michael Stidham, Mark Casse, Tom Amoss, Steve Asmussen and Ken McPeek.
Penn National Race Course. Race 2. 6:27. Bodaciousness deserves another look in second start against 10 other 2-year-old fillies entered for 6-furlong maiden.
Del Mar. Race 7. 6:30. Chad Brown, most likely a cinch for the Eclipse Award, goes for another Grade 1 victory in Hollywood Derby with Beach Patrol, Camelot Kitten and Annals Of Time. Plenty of company from the East Coast in the starting gate for $300,000 stakes, including Hayabusa One, Isotherm and Revved Up.
Golden Gate Fields. Race 7. 6:45. Vibe tried the Grade 1 FrontRunner two starts back as a maiden then graduated for a tag 27 days later. Keith Desormeaux ships son of Astrology north for $75,000 Gold Rush Stakes on the synthetic.
Charles Town Races. Race 1. 7:00. Three first-time starters among the field of seven 2-year-olds set for 4 ½-furlong maiden.
Del Mar. Race 8. 7:00. Bob Baffert sends out two for 6-furlong maiden – American Anthem for China Horse Club and WinStar Farm and Iliad for Kaleem Shah.
Turfway. Race 5. 8:11. Wesley Ward thought enough of Finnegan to send him to England for Group 2 stakes in August 2015. Unbridled’s Song colt finished seventh as the favorite that day at York and hasn’t been out since. Now he’s even-money for 6 ½-furlong allowance on the Polytrack.
Turfway. Race 6. 8:40. Full field of 12 for $50,000 Holiday Inaugural. Dear Elaine, a winner going 1 1/16 miles at Keeneland last time for Charlie LoPresti, shortens up to 6 furlongs and looks tough. She won going 7 furlongs in the spring to cap emotional stretch for her connections.
Charles Town. Race 7. 9:49. Harlan’s Destiny, who ran in Grade 3 Bourbonette Oaks and Grade 2 Beaumont in 2015, is pretty at Charles Town and sports a 3-for-7 record locally heading into 7-furlong allowance for Wayne Potts.
Sunday Special, lagniappe edition
Aqueduct. Race 8. Sunday 3:43 p.m. Final dirt race of the year in New York on the main track – 6 ½-furlong allowance for fillies and mares – before action shifts to the inner dirt next Wednesday. Bona Venture Stable’s Play Unified, who runs for a special cause, makes first start since winning debut way back in late August 2015.
Woodbine. Race 9. Sunday 5:10. Always a favorite around our offices, the Grade 3 Valedictory tests older horses at 1 3/4 miles. Aldous Snow exits back-to-back victories in preps for traditional Closing Day feature, while Melmich looks to improve on good efforts in back-to-back stakes in New York and California. He’s also 11-for-23 on Woodbine’s Polytrack.
Del Mar. Race 7. Sunday 6:30. Time And Motion, who won the goal race taking the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup in October at Keeneland, takes on elders Miss Temple City, Roca Rojo, Mexican Gold, Zindaya and Tiz A Kiss in Grade 1 Matriarch. The last two were 1-2 in Grade 2 Goldikova at Santa Anita Nov. 6 while Miss Temple City finished a close fifth in Breeders’ Cup Mile after winning two Grade 1s at Keeneland this year. Good race.
