Three key Kentucky Derby preps, the Big Cap and Dubai Super Saturday lead the way as we transition into March with eyes ahead to the start of spring.
The day starts overseas with Meydan Racecourse’s Super Saturday card featuring seven races that lead into the Dubai World Cup program later this month. Sprinkle in some jump racing, to get you adequately prepped for the Cheltenham Festival March 16-19, before transitioning back to the U.S.
The Gotham at Aqueduct, Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs and San Felipe at Santa Anita Park feature plenty of Triple Crown hopefuls and each offer 85 points toward a spot in the starting gate May 1 in Louisville. That’s 50 to the winner of each, essentially an automatic bid.
Don’t forget the Big Cap, featuring unbeaten Maxfield in his first foray away from either Kentucky or Louisiana.
All that and more for the first Saturday in March. Here’s all you need to follow along. The primer for Saturday, March 6. Be safe and good luck.
Meydan. Race 2. 7:35 a.m. Walton Street leads a four-prong Godolphin attack in the Grade 2 Dubai City of Gold sponsored by Emirates Holidays Stakes.
Kelso. Race 3. 8:30. Kelso is bringing the heat with a stellar card, including the Grade 2 Premier Novices’ Hurdle. Bareback Jack puts his undefeated record on the line in a competitive renewal.
Meydan. Race 4: 8:45. Midnight Sands somehow escaped a debacle at Keeneland. The son of Speightstown returns to his favorite place – the Meydan main track.
Newbury. Race 3. 8:50. Paul Nicholls rolls out another stellar chaser this Saturday as Grand Sancy lines up in the Grade 3 Greatwood Cup. Add in Capeland for fun. Cool race.
Lingfield. Race 5. 9:00. Megallan returns in the Spring Cup Stakes.
Meydan. Race 5. 9:20. British-based, French-bred Lord Glitters has enjoyed his time at Meydan, winning a Grade 2 and placing in a Grade 2. The David O’Meara-trained 8-year-old could lock onto the Grade 1 Jebel Hatta sponsored by Emirates Airline Stakes.
Kelso. Race 5. 9:40. Grand National clues on offer in the Premier Chase. Cloth Cap could be just getting good at the age of 9.
Meydan. Race 6. 9:55. Tough veterans lining up on the card, including the 10-time winner Secret Ambition in the Grade 1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3 sponsored by Emirates Airline.
Kelso. Race 6. 10:15. Emmet Mullins strikes like a knife. The Shunter looks dangerous.
Doncaster. Race 4. 10:30. The Grimthorpe attracts some old friends. Beware The Bear, Canelo, Just A Sting, Chidswell, Red Infantry, Special Prep and Chef D’Oeuvre. Like walking into the pub for a game of darts on a Saturday night.
Navan. Race 5. 10:58. Gigginstown looks strong in the Grade 3 Flyingbolt Novice Chase. Epson Du Houx won three of four before a disappointing run in his latest while Scarlet and Dove needs to rebound from a fall at Thurles in January.
Gulfstream Park. Race 1. 12:10 p.m.. Start things off stateside with 1-mile turf maiden for 3-year-old fillies. The gangs all here – Mott, Pletcher, Lynch, Brown, Casse, Arnold and Wilkes.
Gulfstream. Race 3. 1:08. Creed, winner of back-to-back starts going 1 1/16 miles last summer at Belmont Park, makes 2021 debut for Shug McGaughey in 6-furlong optional that also features Claiming Crown Express winner Krsto Skye.
Gulfstream. Race 4. 1:37. Second division of 1-mile turf maiden for 3-year-old fillies. Todd Pletcher sends out Barry Schwartz’s homebred English Channel New York-bred Just Ok Is Not Ok against Third Draft for Shug McGaughey, Copacetic for Chad Brown and Final Belle for Bill Mott.
Tampa Bay Downs. Race 5. 2:18. Last Judgment found the water a bit deep last time finishing eighth in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup and returns to more sensible level here in the Grade 3 Michelob Ultra Challenger. He’ll need top effort against the comebacking Modernist and War Stopper.
Santa Anita Park. Race 1. 3:00. No need to wait around for stakes, the $100,000 China Doll for 3-year-old fillies on the grass leads off.
Tampa. Race 7. 3:22. Full field of 3-year-olds for $75,000 Columbia going 1 mile on the grass.
Aqueduct. Race 6. 3:29. The $250,000 Busher Invitational leads off the four stakes. Six 3-year-old fillies entered 1-mile stakes that offers 50 points to the winner toward a spot in the Kentucky Oaks field – Ruthless winner Miss Brazil, Busanda winner The Grass Is Blue, New York-bred stakes winners Laobanonaprayer and Make Mischief and last-out maiden winners Mo Desserts and Search Results.
Fair Grounds. Race 5. 3:56. Net A Bear back to defend title against nine other Louisiana-bred fillies and mares in $60,000 Red Camelia at 1 mile on the grass.
Aqueduct. Race 7. 4:02. Share The Ride won the Grade 3 General George last time and looks to make it two straight graded wins in the Grade 3 Tom Fool. Bob Baffert shipped Speed Pass from California for 6-furlong stakes that also draws Wendell Fong and Pete’s Play Call.
Here’s a new addition to Saturday Specia, Pope Jude’s take: Lots of speed is entered in the Tom Fool Handicap (G3). The closer to fear is #6 WENDELL FONG. The son of Flat Out owns the platinum triangle of improvement, just won the Fire Plug Stakes at Laurel Park and brings jockey Trevor McCarthy along for the ride. #3 CHATEAU is the speed of the speed. He’s never been out of the money at Aqueduct and is 11 of 14 in the money at six furlongs. Another son of Flat Out, he gets a little break in the weights which can’t hurt. Trainer Bob Baffert ships #5 SPEED PASS to New York in search of a stakes win. The Silver Fox is deadly with these moves and his charge has been training like a bomb at Santa Anita. We like jockey Manny Franco getting the call.
For more “inspired racing analysis,” order the full menu at Pope Jude.
Hawthorne Race Course. Race 1. 4:10. Racing returns to Chicago – where it figures to be quite a year with the For Sale sign out at Arlington Park. Five in the opener is sign of what’s to come on eight-race card with average field size of 6.4.
Gulfstream. Race 9. 4:14. Potential for an early read on Highly Motivated later in the day at the Big A with Roderick set for his 2021 debut in the $75,000 Hutcheson. Wesley Ward-trained son of Into Mischief finished third behind that one in the Nyquist last fall at Keeneland before winning a 5-furlong allowance at Churchill.
Golden Gate Fields. Race 1. 4:20. Hats off the crew in Northern California for handling radical protesters camped out on the track Thursday.
Tampa. Race 9. 4:25. Micheline and Magic Attitude, second and third in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup last fall at Keeneland, make 2021 and 4-year-old debuts against deep group in the Grade 2 Hillsborough. Counterparty Risk, Myhartblongstodady, La Signare, New York Girl and Miss Teheran all look tough in 9-furlong turf stakes.
Pope Jude: A bevy of classy fillies and mares have entered the Hillsborough (G2). #2 COUNTERPARTY RISK has won two of her last three starts and will be seeking her second graded stakes victory here. The Irish-bred daughter of Australia, trained by Chad Brown, has a pressing running style which should allow jockey Antonio Gallardo to place her at will. She drew a good post and the mile and an eighth should work to her benefit. Trainer Brendan Walsh sends out #4 LA SIGNARE. By Siyouni, the French-bred has been facing top company lately but has encountered some rough trips. With some clearer sailing under jockey Alonso Quinonez she could be along in time. Trainer Tom Proctor was once the “King of Tampa Bay Downs.” Jesus Castanon was his rider of choice in those glory days and they are getting the band back together here with #10 MORNING MOLLY who has been in top form for over two years. The daughter of Morning Line has her sire’s speed and need only get the distance to be a major factor this afternoon. Trainer Michael Stidham saddles #11 MICHELINE. She is a quality filly. The daughter of Bernardini is stuck on the outside but any one of her better races will be tough to beat here.
For more “inspired racing analysis,” order the full menu at Pope Jude.
Aqueduct. Race 8. 4:36. Eight fillies and mares entered for $250,000 Heavenly Prize Invitational, including Lake Avenue for Godolphin and Bill Mott and Thankful for Romona Bass and Todd Pletcher. Looks like it’s between those two.
Gulfstream. Race 10. 4:46. Karak could continue big day for Wesley Ward in $75,000 Captiva Island. Ever been to Captiva Island? Next time you’re in Florida make the trip.
Tampa. Race 10. 4:55. Good group for the Grade 3 Florida Oaks. Oyster Box prepped for this with a win over the course and could be worth a look along with Domain Expertise, Jouster, Mia Martinia and Be Sneaky.
Aqueduct. Race 9. 5:07. The Grade 3 Gotham leads off trio of key Kentucky Derby preps set to be run in about 40-minute window. One-mile stakes marks the return of Highly Motivated, winner of the Nyquist Stakes during Breeders’ Cup weekend last fall. Chad Brown also entered Crowded Trade for a strong entry to take on Bob Baffert’s shipper Freedom Fighter, Jerome winner Capo Kane and Doug O’Neill’s shipper Wipe The Slate.
Gulfstream. Race 11. 5:19. Boston Post Road ran to her price tag – $525,000 at 2019 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select sale – winning debut Feb. 7 and wheels back for $75,000 Any Limit against restricted stakes winners Shea D Summer and No Mo’ Spending.
Tampa Bay. Race 11. 5:25. Candy Man Rocket looks to complete the sweep of the Sam F. Davis and Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, with 50 points toward the Kentucky Derby and a $400,000 purse on the line. Candy Ride colt meets familiar rival in Hidden Stash, along with unbeaten Helium, impressive maiden winner Promise Keeper and Grade 3 winner Sittin On Go.
Oaklawn Park. Race 8. 5:40. Green Light Go, winner of the 2019 Saratoga Special and runner-up to Tiz The Law in that year’s Grade 1 Champagne as the favorite, finished close fourth in first start for Jerry Hollendorfer and stretches out to 1-mile here in $89,000 allowance. Good field also includes graded stakes-placed Gun It and Blackberry Wine, one-time classics hopeful Spa City, No Mosa and last year’s Ohio Derby winner Dean Martini.
Santa Anita. Race 6. 5:45. All eyes on Life Is Good as he looks to make it three straight in the Grade 2 San Felipe. Into Mischief colt edged stablemate Medina Spirit in the Grad 3 Sham and takes on that one again in $300,000 stakes, along with The Great One and Dream Shake with 50 Derby points on the line to the winner.
Fair Grounds. Race 9. 5:52. Saranya appreciated switch to the grass and takes on Earth Strike and Arm Candy again in co-featured $75,000 Allen Black Cat Lacombe Memorial for 3-year-old fillies on the turf.
Tampa. Race 12. 5:55. Close the card with a signature turf maiden for 3-year-old fillies.
Oaklawn. Race 9. 6:10. Ken McPeek shipped the pair of Oliviaofthedesert and Tabor Hall from South Florida for deep renewal of the Grade 3 Honeybee. The latter made seven starts at 2, winning 3 including a stakes at Remington to end the year. Tall order off the bench against stakes winners Coach and Will’s Secret and the promising Sun Path, Willful Woman and Pauline’s Pearl.
Fonner Park. Race 9. 6:14. The featured $15,000 Ogataul for Nebraska-bred 3-year-olds and up. Named for 23-time winner and $292,921-earner from the late 1970s and early 80s, 6-furlong event goes two turns with a cast that includes last year’s winner Phlash Drive and last year’s Fonner Park Special winner Ye Be Judged.
Oaklawn. Race 10. 6:40. He’smyhoneybadger ran too good in his first two starts to expect his morning-line price of 3-1 in 1 1/16-mile maiden to close the card.
Santa Anita. Race 8. 6:52. Consider the case of Storm The Court. Winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at 45-1, classics prospect who finished a decent sixth in the Kentucky Derby after hitting the board in a few graded stakes last spring and summer, graded stakes competitor on turf with a Grade 2 placing late last year and now among the contenders in the Grade 2 San Carlos at 7 furlongs. He’ll no doubt factor and catches the right field for latest chapter.
Santa Anita. Race 9. 7:26. Always one of the West Coast’s best grass races, the Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile lures Social Paranoia, Spirit Animal, Flavius, Casa Creed, Ride A Comet and Flying Scotsman from Florida. They take on probable favorite and multiple graded stakes winner Smooth Like Strait and Grade 3 Thunder Road winner Hit The Road.
Turfway Park. Race 4. 7:46. Chart, a winner on synthetic and stakes winner on turf last summer at Woodbine, ships from Mark Casse’s training center in Ocala for 1-mile optional.
Santa Anita. Race 10. 8:00. Godolphin homebred Maxfield takes unbeaten record out West for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap. He’ll tote 124 pounds – imposted after victories in the Tenacious and Grade 3 Mineshaft at the Fair Grounds meet – against Express Train, Independence Hall, Idol and others in 10-furlong Big Cap.
Santa Anita. Race 11. 8:30. Finish the day of 6-furlong maiden for 3-year-olds. Bob Baffert’s paid of Following Sea and Defunded look tough.
