Del Mar Racing Brings Excitement while Saratoga Watches an Upset
With an ocean breeze in the air, the crowd at Del Mar was ready for an exciting day of racing. With three stakes races on the card, there was a lot to look forward to with the Del Mar Handicap, Del Mar Oaks and the $1 million TVG Pacific Classic.
The $600,000 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga
But first, we start on the East Coast at Saratoga, where ESKIMO KISSES stole the show in the Alabama Stakes (G1). Heading into the weekend, TALK VEUVE TO ME trained by 34-year-old Rodolphe Brisset was the talk of the track. The young trainer was the assistant and exercise rider for the great Bill Mott. TALK VEUVE TO ME is the result of the years Brisset spent under Mott's tutelage.
TALK VEUVE TO ME was also the 5/2 second choice and our pick for the win. In fact, we expected ESKIMO KISSES to come in for the show and have a better outing next time, but today was the day for the 3 yr. old filly out of TO HONOR AND SERVE. While she trailed behind the pack around the first turn and most of the backstretch, she spotted TALK VEUVE TO ME and quickly made ground moving through the pack until she had the lead and away she went under the guidance of Jose Ortiz. The filly drew the win by 6 1/2 lengths. Covered in mud and off at odds of 9-1, ESKIMO KISSES completed a final time of 2:03.22. The favorite at 6-5, MIDNIGHT BISOU finished third behind SHE'S A JULIE. Our Saratoga tipsheet for Saturday had the $108.00 exacta, $247.00 trifecta and $501.00 superfecta. Watch the replay:
The $250,000 Del Mar Handicap
Back at Del Mar, the crowd gathered for the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap and another exciting upset. Breaking from the 12th hole, FASHION BUSINESS patiently loaded and broke cleanly. At less than a half mile to go, he still sat third back, but just before the turn, FLAVIAN PRAT decided to make his move and "caught them napping." YA GOTTA WANNA got the place and MULTIPLIER won the photo finish for the show. With the Del Mar Handicap win, FASHION BUSINESS secured his "Win and You're In" spot in the $4 million Breeders' Cup Turf (G1). Our pick to win, and the M/L favorite at 7/2, ITSINTHEPOST, just didn't have the outing many had hoped for, crossing the wire seventh. Here is the replay:
The $300,000 Del Mar Oaks
And then it was the fillies turn at Del Mar with the $300,000 Del Mar Oaks (G1T). PAVED was the talk of the track with odds of 6-1. In her short career, she's had two 100 speed ratings and two wins on the turf. OLLIE'S CANDY was another contender to watch with odds of 9/2 and a nearly perfect record in four races. But there was another filly with her eye on the prize and that was the French born FATALE BERE. The three-year-old by Pedro the Great earned her first Grade 1 score under trainer Leonard Powell, who also scored his first Grade 1 win. Piloted by jockey Kent Desormeaux, she accelerated in the final furlong and caught OLLIE'S CANDY by a neck with a final time of 1:48.14 for 1 1/8 miles. Final finish for the Oaks was FATALE BERE, OLLIE'S CANDY and CALIFORNIAGOLDRUSH. Replay:
The Night's Finale: $1 Million TVG Pacific Classic (G1)
As the sun set over the Pacific Coast, the anticipation for the $1 Million TVG Pacific Classic grew thick. Would it be our pick for the win PRIME ATTRACTION at 8-1? Would it be ACCELERATE, the favorite at 8/5, but coming off a layoff and not the best of his last three outings? Or would it be the South American ROMAN ROSSO trained by Bob Baffert?
In the end, it was all ACCELERATE romping for the win and leaving the field of 8 in the dust by 12 1/2 lengths and with a final time of 2:01.83. ROMAN ROSSO was the pacesetter, showing that he was in great form despite being imported and Pavel made a run, but after Joel Rosario made his move, there was no catching the son of LOOKIN AT LUCKY. The final finish was ACCELERATE, PAVEL and PRIME ATTRACTION with ROMAN ROSSO completing the superfecta. Our tipsheet was one of the few to have all four horses picked up top and paid a nice $8.20 exacta, $52.00 trifecta and $161.00 super. We finished out the day with a huge $44.40 exacta and $1,115.40 trifecta in the 11th. Here is the Pacific Classic replay:
We hope everyone had an enjoyable weekend of racing and remember that we have tips every day of the week in addition to all of the big Stakes races on the weekends. Have a great week!
Best of luck today!
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