Is this three in a row? We are on a roll. Here’s your Saturday Special.The Coolmore Fountain of Youth anchors a nine-stakes festival at Gulfstream Park. The Busher, Stymie, Tom Fool and Gotham shine at Aqueduct. Turfway Park offers the John Battaglia Memorial. Before you dive into the European races, check the inspections. With threats of heavy rain, Newbury and Navan are due to be inspected in the morning.
Worth Repeating
“Tough, tough race. I’m not real crazy about the posts we drew, but it is what it is.”
Trainer Randy Morse, who sends out Kantex and Connie K from the two inside posts in the Downthedustyroad at Oaklawn Park
“Eight years ago, I set out with a goal of winning the NHC Tour. I had no idea at the time if I would be capable of doing it. Although there are other prizes in the tournament world that are more lucrative than the Tour, the Tour always meant something special to me because of the necessity to perform consistently well over the length of a full season. Thankfully in 2021, I had the satisfaction of achieving that goal. To achieve it again in 2023 is a feeling beyond any expectation of which I had previously imagined.”
Kevin Costello, after winning his second National Horseplayer Tour victory
“It’s amazing. I remember the first one and here we are at 1,000. The first probably 200 took five or six years and it was a struggle, and the last 800 have come pretty quickly. We’ve gotten the opportunities from the owners and that’s what you need. Without the owners, you can’t do it. There’s no trainer without horses, and the owners produce the horses.”
Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. after winning his 1,000th race last weekend at Gulfstream. Joseph won 100 races from 2011 to 2016 and sat at 287 wins at the end of the 2019 season.
Big ‘Cap Sunday
A glance at the U.S. stakes schedule for Sunday showed zip, zilch, nada. Wet Southern California weather changed that and Santa Anita Park officials moved Saturday’s anticipated Santa Anita Handicap Day card to Sunday, giving horseplayers reason to hunker down a day after the smorgasbord of action.
First post for Big ‘Cap Day will be 12:30 p.m. PT and the card also includes the Grade 1 Kilro Mile and Grade 2 San Felipe and Buena Vista.
And the forecast looks good, too, with sunny skies and temperatures in the 60s.
By the Numbers
1.23: Racing-related equine fatalities per 1,000 starts in 2023 at racetracks under the jurisdiction of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA).
1.32: Rate of fatal injury in 2023 according to the Equine Injury Database, the second lowest rate since the EID began in 2009 and the fourth straight year the rate has been below 1.5.
1: Number of contributors to The Saturday Special confused as to why there are two numbers, both released on the same day essentially by the same organizations.
1,000: Winners for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. after he sent out Palace Zip to win the finale Sunday at Gulfstream Park. A 37-year-old native of Barbados, Joseph has won eight straight training titles at Gulfstream Park since he finished second in the 2020-21 Championship Meet.
500,000: Dollars in purse money for the Grade 3 Dinner Party Stakes on Preakness Day, up from $200,000 in 2023.
5 million: Dollars in bonus money for connections of horse that wins the Grade 1 Preakness, Grade 1 California Crown and Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup as part of a series conceived by 1 S/T Racing linking the three races. The California Crown headlines opening day of the Santa Anita Park fall meeting and replaces the former Awesome Again Stakes.
4998: Career wins for jockey Scott Speith
999: Career wins for jockey Gerardo Mora (based at Sam Houston, Mora had two scheduled rides Friday)
999: Career wins for trainer John McCaslin
2,455,164: Dollars authorized by the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation board of directors to fund 11 new projects, 13 continuing projects at 14 universities as well as three career development awards
Names of the Day
Zing. Fair Grounds. Race 4. We’re suckers for one-word monikers. The 5-year-old mare seeks her fifth career victory.
Neat. Fair Grounds. Race 9. Here’s another one. It’s how we like our whiskey.
Creditor. Fonner Park. Race 5. The 3-year-old filly is by Collected out of Debit.
Layaway. Fonner Park. Race 5. The 4-year-old filly is by Super Saver.
Spin Wheel. Sam Houston. Race 3. The 5-year-old is by Hard Spun. Of course.
Tie for Jockey of the Week
The judges and voters couldn’t separate Junior Alvarado and Keith Asmussen in the race for Jockey of the Week, so they went ahead with awarding both the honor. Check out the release from the Jockeys’ Guild:
Racing on Saturday began early with the card from King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Saudi Arabia where Junior Alvarado was aboard Senor Buscador in the $20 million Saudi Cup. Later Saturday at Oaklawn Park, Keith J. Asmussen was in the irons on Lemon Muffin in the Gr. 3 Honeybee Stakes. Victories by both riders in their respective races led to a tie in the voting by the panel of racing experts for Jockey of the Week February 19-25.
The weekly award recognizes jockeys for riding accomplishments and who are members of the Jockeys’ Guild, the organization which represents more than 1050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the U.S.
New Mexico-based trainer Todd Fincher gave a leg up to Alvarado on Senor Buscador in the $20 million Saudi Cup. Alvarado had picked up the mount two races back and had gotten familiar with the 6-year-old’s late-running style. Breaking from post four in a field of 14, Alvarado and Senor Buscador raced along the fence near the back while Saudi Crown led the field with a furlong to go. Senor Buscador unleased his furious rally down the stretch catching Saudi Crown and eventual runner-up Ushba Tesoro just at the wire in a stakes-record time of 1:49.50 for 9 furlongs.
“I always had faith in the horse and we just needed, not even luck, just a fair track and I knew we would get that today,” Alvarado said. I’m very happy, very grateful for opportunities that come along.”
Seven-thousand miles away and about five hours later, Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas gave a leg up to Asmussen aboard Lemon Muffin. With just his second mount in a graded stakes, Asmussen and Lemon Muffin rallied from sixth to post a commanding 3 1/2-length win in 1:45.60 for the 1 1/16 miles. Off at 28-1, Lemon Muffin picked up 50 points toward a spot in the Kentucky Oaks field and gave her rider his first career graded stakes win.
“She broke ultra-alert, settled comfortably in the first turn,” Asmussen said. “Down the backside, I had the biggest smile on my face because she was like a wave and she was begging me to push the button. When I turned her loose, she exploded.”
Asmussen, 25, began riding in 2020 and is the son of Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. His career statistics to-date include 88 wins and more than $5.2 million in purse earnings. He posted a career high four wins February 16 and has ridden three winners on a card twice. He is the older brother of Erik Asmussen, who currently rides at Sam Houston.
Handicapper’s Corner
The gang truly is back this week, with “Garlic Rob” Whitlock back from a week hiatus. We’ll blame technology for his absence and we know he’s fired up for this week’s handicapping challenge.
The team tackles the 14-race monster card at Gulfstream Park, which hosts the Grade 2 Coolmore Fountain of Youth and eight other stakes. A lot to dissect, so here we go.
John Shapazian (3/12):
1-Tour The City, Jhirsch, Domingo.
2-Big City, Be You, Jefferson Street.
3-Cugino, Tocayo, Royal Majesty.
4-Skyro, Exact Estimate, Rockemperor.
5-J P Hellish, English Bee, Risk Manager.
6-Kingsbarns, Implementation, Baby Yoda.
7-Main Event, Dynadrive, Tawny Port.
8-Ozara, Life’s An Audible, Agra.
9-Leslie’s Rose, Queen’s Matini, Just F Y I.
10-Sister Lou Ann, R Calli Kim, Cairo Consort.
11-Tumbarumba, Steal Sunshine, Wit.
12-Emmanuel, Smokin’ T, Siege Of Boston.
13-Spansive, For The Flag, Time Passage.
14-Speak Easy, Dornoch, Locked.
Tom Law (1/12):
1-El Rezeen, De La Cruz, Tour The City.
2-Acclaimed Warrior, Jefferson Street, Big City.
3-Silent Heart, Triple Espresso, Cugino.
4-Exact Estimate, Lure Him In, Rockemperor.
5-English Bee, Loyal Company, J P Hellish.
6-Kingsbarns, Baby Yoda, Vivir Con Alegria.
7-Headline News, Dynadrive, Tawny Port.
8-Crown Imperial, Life’s An Audible, Ozara.
9-Just F Y I, Leslie’s Rose, Into Champagne.
10-Anatolian, R Calli Kim, Highland Grace.
11-Tumbarumba, Wit, Steal Sunshine.
12-Ice Chocolat, Atone, Emmanuel.
13-For The Flag, Walkathon, Chili Flag.
14-Locked, Speak Easy, Victory Avenue.
Charles Bedard (2/12):
1-Linesman, Steadfast Resolve, Artempus.
2-Jefferson Street, Big City, Acclaimed Victor.
3-Tocayo, Abrumar, Cugino.
4-Skyro, Lure Him In, He’s A Mess.
5-Let It Ride, Indestructible, American Speed.
6-Vivir Con Alegria, Implementation, Baby Yoda.
7-Kingmax, Main Event, Anglophile.
8-Life’s An Audible, Macanga, Pounce.
9-Leslie’s Rose, Whocouldaskformo, Just F Y I.
10-Sister Lou Ann, Cairo Consort, R Calli Kim.
11-Tumbarumba, Il Miracolo, Gilmore.
12-Atone, Siege Of Boston, Ice Chocolat.
13-Chili Flag, Be My Sunshine, For The Flag.
14-Locked, Dornoch, Speak Easy.
Rob Whitlock:
1-Jhirsch, Domingo, Linesman.
2-Big City, Jefferson Street, Be You.
3-Okiro, Cugino, Royal Majesty.
4-Exact Estimate, Skyro, Armstrong.
5-Indestructible, English Bee, Risk Manager.
6-Kingsbarns, Implementation, Khozeiress.
7-Dynadrive, Tawny Port, Kingmax.
8-Ozara, Life’s An Audible, Macanga.
9-Leslie’s Rose, Just F Y I, Fiona’s Magic.
10-Sister Lou Ann, R Calli Kim, Cairo Consort.
11-Wit, Tumbarumba, Steal Sunshine.
12-Smokin’ T, Seige Of Boston, Atone.
13-Walkathon, Chili Flag, For The Flag.
14-Locked, Dornoch, Speak Easy.
Jessica Paquette (3/12):
1-Jhirsch, Linesman, Domingo.
2-Acclaimed Victor, Jefferson Street, Howard Wolowitz.
3-Royal Majesty, Abrumar, Triple Espresso.
4-Ohana Honor, Regal Kingdom, Exact Estimate.
5-Reckoning Force, Let It Ride, English Bee.
6-Kingsbarns, Dangerous Ride, Positive Review.
7-Anglophile, Main Event, Tawny Port.
8-Agra, Ozara, Show Off.
9-Fiona’s Magic, Just F Y I, Leslie’s Rose.
10-R Calli Kim, Cairo Consort, Anatolian.
11-Il Miracolo, Wit, Tumbarumba.
12-Smokin’ T, Emmanuel, Siege Of Boston.
13-Miss Carol Ann, Chili Flag, Spansive.
14-Victory Avenue, Dornoch, Locked.
Now for the racing…
Meydan. Race 2. 7:05 a.m. The One Thousand Guineas looks like a layup to Cinderella’s Dream. The undefeated filly takes on six rivals, including American-owned Geologist.
Newbury. Race 2. 8:55. Hopefully the rain stays away for the Greatwood Gold Cup. We’ve always liked Sir Psycho.
Kelso. Race 2. 9:17. Brucio takes on the boys in the Grade 2 novice hurdle.
Doncaster. Race 3. 9:35. Veterans Nube Negra and Tommy’s Oscar try to get back on track in the 2-mile chase.
Kelso. Race 3. 9:50. Under Control searches for a £100,000 bonus by winning the Morebattle and the County Hurdle at Cheltenham. Watch the weather, the 5-year-old mare doesn’t want it too testing.
Kelso. Race 4. 10:25. Monbeg Genius looks strong against six rivals in this listed chase.
Doncaster. Race 5. 10:40. The Grimthorpe drew 13 staying chasers. We’ll take a flyer on Kinondo Kwetu.
Navan. Race 5. 10:48. Blood Destiny for the behemoth Willie Mullins and Spillane’s Tower for the little yard James Joseph Mangan rumble in the Grade 3 Flyingbolt Novice Chase.
Navan. Race 6. 11:23. Journey With Me tries to bounce back from a fall back in April. The six-time winner takes on four opponents in the Grade 2 Webster Cup.
Gulfstream Park. Race 3. 12:13 p.m. The $200,000 Colonel Liam at 1 mile on the grass for 3-year-olds opens the stakes portion of Fountain of Youth Day.
Gulfstream. Race 6. 1:44. Kingsbarns, winner of the Louisiana Derby and 14th in the Kentucky Derby last year, makes his return in 7-furlong allowance-optional.
Gulfstream. Race 7. 2:15. Back to the stakes and stretching out to 11 furlongs in the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida Stakes.
Gulfstream. Race 8. 2:45. Stay on the grass for the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride for 3-year-old fillies. Multiple stakes winner Ozara bids for first graded win while Life’s An Audible goes for back-to-back wins at the level.
Gulfstream. Race 9. 3:17. How good was the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies? We’ll know in the span of about an hour with the winner and eventual champion Just F Y I going here in the Grade 2 Davona Dale Stakes and the runner-up running next at Aqueduct. No layup here with Leslie’s Rose also in the field for her stakes debut.
Gulfstream. Race 10. 3:49. One of our favorites, the The Very One Stakes going 11 furlongs on the grass.
Aqueduct. Race 7. 4:01. Sophomore fillies with eyes on the Kentucky Oaks stretch to 1 mile in the $200,000 Busher Stakes. Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up Jody’s Pride makes her 2024 debut against a solid field that also includes Busanda winner Gin Gin, Busanda runner-up Princess Mayfair, Parx sensation Aoife’s Magic and multiple Mid-Atlantic stakes winner Carmelina.
Fair Grounds. Race 5. 4:06. A G’s Charlotte and Wholelottamo, 2-3 in last year’s Red Camelia, are back for this year’s $100,000 renewal going 1 mile on the grass.
Gulfstream. Race 11. 4:20. Tumbarumba, winner of the Grade 3 Fred Hooper on Pegasus Day, comes back for the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes against familiar foe Steal Sunshine along with Il Miracolo and Wit.
Aqueduct. Race 8. 4:34. Castle Chaos ships from Florida for the $150,000 Stymie while Charles Town-based Coastal Mission, fifth in the Grade 2 Cigar Mile after winning six straight, returns to the Big A. They all might be running for second against Petulante, who makes debut for Rick Dutrow.
Oaklawn Park. Race 7. 4:43. Eight Arkansas-breds line up for the $150,000 Nodouble Breeders’ Stakes. Who’s Nodouble you ask? A fellow Ark-bred who won or placed in 24 of 42 starts including the Met Mile, Big ‘Cap, Arkansas Derby and many more major stakes.
Gulfstream. Race 12. 4:53. Emmanuel makes his first start since last year’s Grade 1 Fourstardave here in the Grade 2 Canadian Turf. Good field awaits led by Atone, Smokin’ T and Ice Chocolat.
Aqueduct. Race 9. 5:06. Multiple New York-bred stakes winners Rotknee looks touch in Grade 3 Tom Fool, which drew good field that also includes Toboggan winner Super Chow, Grade 2 winner Manny Wah, Twenty Four Mamba and Listentoyourheart.
Fair Grounds. Race 7. 5:10. Older Louisiana-breds take their turn at the 1-mile turf trip in the $100,000 Edward J. Johnston Memorial.
Oaklawn. Race 8. 5:15. Time For Truth, second in the Ozark last time out, stretches out to 1 1/16 miles here for Ron Moquett.
Gulfstream. Race 13. 5:23. Walkathon and Be My Sunshine, 1-2 in the Grade 3 Endeavour last month at Tampa Bay Downs, return for the Grade 3 Honey Fox at 1 mile on the grass.
Aqueduct. Race 10. 5:36. Kentucky Derby points on the line in the Grade 3 Gotham at 1 mile. Christophe Clement sends out strong duo in Deterministic and Capital Idea, while Brad Cox goes even deeper with the quartet of Just A Touch, Lightline, Bergen and Air Cav. El Grande O continues to give throwback vibes and makes his 11th start after just missing in the Grade 3 Withers in early February.
Oaklawn. Race 9. 5:50. Arkansas-bred fillies and mares go 6 furlongs in the $150,000 Downthedustyroad Breeders’ Stakes. Since we gave the history lesson of Nodoublt, how about Downthedustyroad? She doesn’t go as far back but still evokes good memories as the winner of the Grade 1 La Brea in late December 2006 before selling for $1.5 million in mid-January 2007.
Gulfstream. Race 14. 6:10. The race of the day, the $400,000, Grade 2 Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes. Speak Easy and Victory Avenue, 1-2 in hyped maiden on Pegasus Day, take on the proven duo of Grade 1 winner Locked and Grade 2 winner Dornoch. Locked, winner of the Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity and third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last fall, missed the Sam F. Davis a few weeks back but will be ready. Dornoch hasn’t been out since winning the Grade 2 Remsen in early December. Half-brother to last year’s Kentucky Derby winner Mage also figures to be tough in return.
Fair Grounds. Race 9. 6:17. The third of three stakes on the day, the $100,000 Black Gold for 3-year-olds. Can Group goes back to the grass for Mark Casse while Neat looks for second straight open-company turf stakes victory for Rob Atras. Don’t look past the New York-bred Works For Me, who makes turf debut with some good main track races on his form.
Fonner Park. Race 9. 6:22. Seemingly never fails that Fonner will run a weekend stakes. Here’s the $20,000 Bold Accent for fillies and mares at 4 furlongs.
Turfway Park. Race 6. 8:25. The $150,000 John Battaglia Memorial serves as main local prep for the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby in a few weeks. John Ennis looks to keep his big year going with Epic Ride, winner of the prep for the prep last months in the Leonatus Stakes.
