YOUR AUGUST 20, 2004 NEWSLETTER

EAST COAST VERSUS WEST COAST,
TEAMS ARE SET FOR FINALS

Ten players for each team were selected based on the number of points accumulated in the opening round. The finals are slated for August 22, Sunday, with the West coast team home town favorites on the Pacific Classic from Del Mar. The East then has the advantage later that week on Saturday, August 28, with the Travers Stakes from Saratoga.

Follow the contest at WinTicket.com


$10,000 GUARANTEED SIGNATURE SUMMER SERIES CHALLENGE UPDATE

Enter now for the Saturday race in the $10,000 Signature Summer Series Challenge. The Alabama Stakes from Saratoga horse entries are open now and close at 5:30 p.m. (ET) Saturday. The Pacific Classic from Del Mar is available after midnight and will close at 7:30 p.m. (ET) Sunday.

HARDPAN continues his lead in the summer series following a tough Arlington Million which had seen the disqualification of Powerscourt. ETOPS757 made a significant move with his selection of Kicken Kris as there is a tight battle for money positions.

This weekend return for two races as we head into the final two weeks of the summer series. On Saturday is the Alabama Stakes from Saratoga, followed by the Pacific Classic on Sunday from Del Mar. The contest began with the MassCap from Suffolk Downs on June 19 and continues to the Travers Stakes on August 28, that's 18 races in all. There are 15 of 90 points still up for grabs in this contest. Click here for the list of races and rules.

An update on the Summer Challenge from WinTicket.com


PLEASANTLY PERFECT FACES SEVEN IN
DEL MAR’S $1M PACIFIC CLASSIC SUNDAY

Pleasantly Perfect, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, the Dubai World Cup, and over $6.7 million, leads a field of eight in Sunday’s $1 million, Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar.

The 1 ¼-mile contest for 3-year-olds and up should be a strong test for the 6-year-old son of Pleasant Colony, as it includes the undefeated Choctaw Nation, who beat Pleasantly Perfect in the San Diego Handicap earlier this month, as well as several other multiple graded stakes winners.

The San Diego was Pleasantly Perfect’s first start since the Dubai World Cup in March. In the 1 1/16-mile San Diego, Pleasantly Perfect had early traffic problems, but challenged During for the advantage on the backstretch. While he put that one away late, he could not hold off the late-running Choctaw Nation. Trainer Richard Mandella was using that race as a prep for the Pacific Classic, though, and the champion should improve Sunday while gaining the services of Hall of Fame rider Jerry Bailey.

Meanwhile, Choctaw Nation has already stamped himself as this year’s best claim. The 4-year-old Louis Quatorze gelding was haltered for $40,000 in his first start at Santa Anita Feb. 29. Last at the top of the stretch, he closed with a rush to make up 17 lengths for the victory. Since then, Jeff Mullins’ charge has won four more races, closing with a strong surge each time. Victor Espinoza has the return call.

Total Impact will be looking for his second straight Grade 1 win. The Chilean-bred 6-year-old took the Hollywood Gold Cup, also at 1 ¼ miles. The son of Stuka staked the leaders along the rail in that test, slipped through to lead in midstretch, then prevailed over Olmodavor by 1 ¼ lengths. Mike Smith has the mount for conditioner Laura de Seroux.

Perfect Drift, second by a nose to Roses in May in the Whitney Handicap, makes the trip west for trainer Murray Johnson, while During stretches out to his longest distance ever from the barn of Bob Baffert. Rounding out the field are Stephen Foster Handicap upsetter Colonial Colony, Argentine Group 2 winner El Elogiado, and 8-year-old Grade 2 winner Night Patrol.

Ticker Tape seeks her second straight Oaks win in Saturday’s Del Mar feature, the $300,000, Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks at 1 1/8 miles on the turf.

Ticker Tape, a daughter of Royal Applause, gave trainer Jim Cassidy his first Grade 1 win in last month’s American Oaks at Hollywood Park. Her victories this season also include the Providencia Stakes Apr. 11 and the China Doll Stakes March 18, both at one mile at Santa Anita. Kent Desormeaux is in the irons.

Sweet Win challenged Ticker Tape after beating Miss Vegas by a head in the one-mile San Clemente Handicap at Del Mar July 31. The King of Kings filly was bought for $175,000 after her prior start, a six-length win in a 1 1/16-mile turf allowance test at Calder June 13. Victor Espinoza rides for trainer Jeff Mullins

Surf to the turf with Del Mar and WinTicket.com


‘A’ IS FOR ASHADO AND AFLEET
ALEX AT SARATOGA SATURDAY

Ashado, currently the leader in the 3-year-old filly division, breaks from post 6 in Saturday’s $750,000, Grade 1 Alabama Stakes at 1 ¼ miles. The eight-horse Alabama field also includes Yearly Report and the unbeaten Fleet Indian.

A daughter of Saint Ballado, Ashado has annexed the Kentucky Oaks and the Coaching Club American Oaks this season. She seeks to become the fourth filly to pull off an Alabama-Kentucky Oaks double in the past six years. She would join the ranks of Farda Amiga (2002), Flute (2001) and Silverbulletday (1999). Trained by Todd Pletcher, Ashado has already shown a liking for Saratoga—she won the Schuylerville and Spinaway at the Spa as a juvenile. John Velazquez has the mount.

Yearly Report will put her unbeaten season on the line in the Alabama. The Bob Baffert-trained daughter of General Meeting won the Santa Ynez and Melair on the West Coast before being shipped east. Her winning ways continued in the Black-Eyed Susan and Delaware Oaks. Jerry Bailey has been named.

Fleet Indian is 4-for-4, but takes a big step up in class. The New York-bred Indian Charlie filly makes her first foray into stakes company for trainer Jimmy Toner. Edgar Prado is in the irons.

The field also includes two fillies trained by D. Wayne Lukas and two by Allen Jerkens. Lukas’ Stellar Jayne upset Ashado at 29-1 in the Mother Goose in June, while Jerkens saddled Society Selection to win the Test Stakes at Saratoga last month.

Juveniles will be featured Saturday as well as seven 2-year-olds compete in the $250,000, Grade 1 Hopeful at seven furlongs.

Afleet Alex will try to stay undefeated. The Northern Afleet colt has won his three starts by a combined 28 ½ lengths. His most recent effort was a 5 ¼-length score in the Grade 2 Sanford at Saratoga July 29. Sixth early, he drew away in the stretch and covered the six furlongs in 1:09 1/5. Jeremy Rose rides for trainer Tim Ritchey.

Afleet Alex’s strongest competitor comes from Florida. Devils Disciple is 3-for-4 and comes to the Hopeful off decisive victories in the Criterium and Dear Murray at Calder. Cornelio Velasquez has been named on the gelded son of Devil His Due for conditioner Joseph Waunsch.

Bet the best at Saratoga with WinTicket.com


THEY’RE CHASING A ‘GHOST’
IN MONMOUTH’S ISELIN

Ghostzapper, winner of the seven-furlong Tom Fool Handicap at Belmont Park July 4, will be tested around two turns for the first time in Saturday’s $200,000, Grade 3 Philip H. Iselin Breeders’ Cup Handicap at 1 1/8 miles.

The Tom Fool was the first start in nine months for Bobby Frankel’s charge. The son of Awesome Again ended 2003 with a win in the Grade 1 Vosburgh Stakes at Belmont. The Iselin is a spot Frankel chose for the 4-year-old after some deliberation. He was originally pointed toward the Whitney Handicap, but Frankel sent Peace Rules, who ran sixth, instead. He was then aimed toward last Saturday’s Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga, but Frankel was not happy with the horse’s weight assignment and instead settled on the Iselin. Javier Castellano is aboard.

The home field advantage goes to Presidentialaffair, who comes to the Iselin off back-to-back stakes wins in the Salvator Mile Handicap and the Skip Away Stakes, both at Monmouth. Stewart Elliott has the mount for trainer Martin Ciresa.

Race to the Jersey shore with Monmouth Park and WinTicket.com


CAL EXPO THOROUGHBRED
MEET OPENS NEXT WEEK

The California State Fair circuit moves to Sacramento with Thoroughbred racing beginning Wednesday, August 25. Thoroughbred racing runs through Labor Day, September 6.

Wager any of 48 tracks Saturday at WinTicket.com


TWO STAKES ON WOODBINE CARD

A field of five three-year-old fillies have entered the $150,000 Duchess Stakes (Can-G3) at Woodbine on Saturday. Jimmy Jerkins brings Boston Express here in her first start since switching barns. The daughter of Boston Harbor won the Dixie Miss Stakes at Louisiana Downs two starts back and finished third in the G3 Azalea Breeders' Cup at Calder in her last outing.

The fourth race is the $97,000 Izvestia Stakes for older Canadian-breds. A field of seven has been drawn for the 1 1/16 mile event over the main track.

Pick up the Woodbine Stakes Saturday at WinTicket.com


HARNESS NEWS: INDIANA DOWNS,
WOODBINE, CLEVELAND CLASSIC, FREEHOLD

On Friday night, Indiana Downs will host four divisions of the Kentucky Standardbred Sales Company Stakes for two-year-old trotting fillies. Each division is worth at least $73,000. Nine three-year-old trotters will be behind the starting gate for the $80,000 Kentucky Sired Summer Championship Final. Lantern's Law won his elimination heat here last Friday night in 1:54 4/5 and was installed as the 3-1 morning line favorite in the final.

The Robert Stewart Stakes Final at Woodbine has been split into two divisions, each worth $110,700. Eleven juvenile pacing fillies have been entered in each division which will be races 3 and 5 on tonight's card. Lucky Mistress could be going into the first division undefeated had she not gone off stride coming into the stretch on July 1 yet still got the place spot. The daughter of Camluck is 7-2 on the morning line. Cabrini Hanover is the 6-5 favorite in the second heat.

Saturday night's stakes races include the Cleveland Classic at Northfield Park for three-year-old pacers has been split into two divisions worth $94,500 each. Up Front Brad is the 2-1 morning line favorite in race 11 coming off a win at The Meadows last Saturday. Basil Hanover heads the seven horse field in race 12 at 5-2 and comes off a fourth place finish in the Adios Final last week at The Meadows after winning a heat four races earlier on the same card.

Freehold's feature on Saturday is the $138,100 Shady Daisy for three-year-old pacing fillies. A field of ten including an entry of Ice Sculpture and Fie Foe Fire has been entered. Also on the Freehold card are two divisions of the $50,000 Molly Pitcher Pace for two-year-old fillies. A field of seven juvenile pacing colts and geldings are entered for the $119,010 Wayne Smullin Memorial at Rosecroft Raceway. Kafka Hanover heads a field of nine three-year-old pacers in the $80,000 Kentucky Sired Summer Championship Final at The Red Mile. Rockingham hosts the $112,000 New Hampshire Sweepstakes Final for older pacers. Artesan won his elimination heat for this stake in 1:50 flat last Saturday as the 3-10 favorite. Two-year-old filly pacers are in the spotlight at Pocono Downs as that track will have seven divisions of the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes on the Saturday night card.

Wager any of 17 harness tracks Saturday at WinTicket.com


FUTURE WAGERING ON JUG,
JUGETTE NEXT WEEK

The third and final Future Wager pools for the upcoming Little Brown Jug and the Jugette opens next Thursday, August 26. The future wager pools will comprise 23 named horses with number 24 being "all others". The future pool is a $2 win wager only. If the horse does not run, you lose your future wager. These pools are pari-mutuel pools with the final odds determined when the pool closes based on the amount wagered on each horse. These pools close at 11:30 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, August 29.

The Jugette is scheduled for Wednesday, September 22 and the Little Brown Jug will be run on September 23. Both races are run at the Delaware County (Ohio) Fair, a half-mile track just north of Columbus.

Catch the Delaware County Fair action at WinTicket.com
 

Have a Great Racing Weekend!

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