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UPI
6 days ago
- Sport
- UPI
Mystik Dan, Thorpedo Anna return to scene of Derby, Oaks triumphs
1 of 3 | Thorpedo Anna, shown winning the Breeders Cup Distaff in November, returns in Saturday's Grade I Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs, a "Win and You're In" for this year's Distaff., File Photo by Mark Abraham/UPI | License Photo June 27 (UPI) -- Mystik Dan and Thorpedo Anna, winners of the 2024 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, respectively, return to Churchill Downs on Saturday as key parts of a talent-laden program on dirt and turf in weekend racing. On the international front, Lambourn seeks a "Derby Double" in Ireland and some heavyweights tangle in a French Group 1 tilt at Saint-Cloud. Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" spots are on offer in Louisville, Ky., and Montevideo, Uruguay. Let's dive right in. Classic Saturday's $1 million Grade I Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs is a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 1. But, no matter who wins the Foster, six of the seven entrants easily could meet again in that year-end showdown. It's that good a field. Hit Show enters off a win in the $12 million Group 1 Dubai World Cup. Mystik Dan won last year's Kentucky Derby and got back on the winning path with a score in the Grade III Blame over the same course and 1 1/8-mile distance as the Foster in his last. Sierra Leone won the 2024 Breeders' Cup Classic after a storied Triple Crown campaign. Skippylongstocking won the Grade II Hollywood Gold Cup in his last start and has won just about everywhere -- except Churchill Downs. There, he's 0-for-2. Mindframe, by contrast, exits a victory in the Grade I Churchill Downs Stakes on Derby Day. First Mission won the Grade II Oaklawn Handicap in his last start. Another shocker: Three of the five entries in Saturday's $100,000 Los Alamitos Derby are from the Bob Baffert barn. Baffert seeks his ninth straight victory in the race and 15th overall with Tiz Secure, Varney and Nevada Beach. Doug O'Neill counters with Rank and Antonio Garcia has the Cal-bred It's a Factor, who probably won't be as he seeks his second career win in his first start on dirt. Seven are in for Saturday's $150,000 (Canadian) Grade III HPIbet Marine Stakes for 3-year-olds on the Woodbine all-weather. Five are Ontario-breds and therefore candidates for the rapidly approaching King's Plate. Distaff Saturday's $500,000 Grade II Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs, a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Distaff, features 2024 Kentucky Oaks winner Thorpedo Anna in a field of five. The 4-year-old Fast Anna filly will have to prove her last race, a fading, last-place finish in the Grade I La Troienne, was a fluke. Trainer Kenny McPeek's decision to bring her right back from the May 2 debacle is encouraging, as is her record of seven wins from eight starts before the La Troienne. Eight are slated to report for duty in Saturday's $150,000 (Canadian) Grade III Selene for 3-year-old fillies on the Woodbine all-weather. Mark it a tossup. Sprint Booth has won four straight races, three at the tough Oaklawn Park meeting, which is enough to make him the 2-1 morning-line favorite in Saturday's $350,000 Grade III Kelly's Landing at Churchill Downs. Super Chow, Subrogate and Dean Delivers all seem to have chances in a field of eight for Saturday's $175,000 Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash at Laurel Park. Sunday's $250,000 Maxfield Stakes finds 13 3-year-olds set to go 7 furlongs out of the Churchill Downs backstretch chute. It looks wildly competitive. Turf Mercante, Brilliant Berti and Lagynos are well-regarded in Saturday's $500,000 Grade II Wise Dan at Churchill Downs after finishing 1-2-3, respectively, in the Grade III Arlington Stakes at the same 1 1/16 miles May 31. Tiztastic was 2-for-2 on the grass before being detoured to the Triple Crown trail. Trainer Steve Asmussen has him back on the green course in Saturday's $250,000 American Derby at Churchill Downs. Trainer Peter Eurton ships Stay Hot from California to Lone Star Park to make his 4-year-old debut as the 5-2 favorite in Saturday's $250,000 Texas Turf Classic. Turf Mile The twice-delayed $400,000 Grade III Penn Mile finally gets to the starting gate Friday at Penn National with a field of eight 3-year-olds. Zulu Kingdom seeks his third straight win in a field of eight. Friday's $400,000 Penn Oaks at Penn National has a well-matched field of nine. The roster sounds like a Valentine's card with Love You Anyway, Love and Poetry, Reigning Flowers and Candy Quest in the field. Speaking of romance, Lush Lips and Vixen finished second and third, respectively, behind the talented Nitrogen in the Grade II Edgewood on Kentucky Oaks Day. With Nitrogen out of the picture, they top the morning line for Saturday's $250,000 Tepin Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Churchill Downs. Don't overlook Something Stronger if her odds stay near the 10-1 morning line quote. Caitlinhergrtness, the 2024 King's Plate winner, returns to the Woodbine turf in Saturday's $175,000 (Canadian) Grade II Nassau for fillies and mares. Turf Sprint Patches O'Houlihan is 12-for-15 at Woodbine and a solid favorite in Saturday's $200,000 (Canadian) Grade II bet365 Highlander at the same venue. My Boy Prince, runner-up in the 2024 King's Plate, returns from New York as a gelding with a new lease on life as a turf sprinter. Juvenile / Juvenile Fillies Sunday's $225,000 Bashford Manor and $225,000 Debutante for fillies are good chances to watch and learn about some early-maturing juveniles. Around the world, around the clock Ireland Lambourn seeks the Derby Double in Sunday's Group 1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh. The Australia colt, trained by Aidan O'Brien, ran off with the Betfred Derby at Epsom, winning by 3 3/4 lengths. It would seem there's not a lot standing in his way, with Tennessee Stud the next-favored in the antepost wagering. The Joseph Patrick O'Brien charge was third at Epsom, 4 3/4 lengths back of Lambourn. The elder O'Brien's Whirl also is well-regarded in Saturday's Group 1 Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes for fillies and mares at the Curragh. But the 3-year-old Wootton Bassett filly, second by a neck in the Betfred Oaks in her last start, will have to cope with 4-year-old Kalpana, trained by the Gosden team. The Study of Man filly won the Group 1 Qipco British Champion Fillies & Mares last fall and was third in the Tattersalls Gold Cup in her first start this year. The Saturday program also includes heats for 2-year-olds. France Sunday's Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud at Saint-Cloud only has five starters, but they're good ones. Calandagan exits four straight runner-up finishes -- all in Group 1 races at York, Ascot, Dubai and Epsom. The 4-year-old Gleneagles gelding has never finished worse than third. Goliath, Junko, Aventure and Iresine complete the field. Uruguay A "Win and You're In" spot is on offer in Sunday's Group 3 Asociacion Uruguaya de Propietarios at Hipodromo Maronas in Montevideo, Uruguay. The winner will earn an automatic starting position and fees paid for the $1 million Breeders Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 1. The race is the first Breeders' Cup Challenge Series event ever held in Uruguay, which has had international success of late, including in Dubai.
Forbes
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Stephen Foster 2025 Betting Preview: Showdown At Churchill Downs
Brian Hernandez Jr. rides Mystik Dan, right, to the finish line to win the 150th running of the ... More Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) Bettors are in for a treat Saturday as a loaded field of top older horses lines up for the 44th running of the $1 million Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs. The race, a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Classic, features a compelling rematch between Kentucky Derby 150 winner Mystik Dan and Breeders' Cup Classic champ Sierra Leone, along with Dubai World Cup winner Hit Show, rising star Mindframe, and several other stakes-caliber contenders. Run at 1 1/8 miles, the Stephen Foster is the centerpiece of a 12-race card that also includes five other stakes, making it one of the most attractive wagering days of the Churchill Downs Spring Meet. First post is 12:45 p.m. ET, with the Foster set for 6:03 p.m. as Race 11. Let's break down the contenders with a focus on value, pace setup, and betting angles: Sierra Leone (Post 4 – Flavien Prat, Chad Brown) The likely favorite, Sierra Leone returns for his first start since dominating the Breeders' Cup Classic last fall. He's trained steadily at Brown's New York base and ships in fresh. He owns a win over 1 1/8 miles and is proven against top company. But bettors should weigh his 8-month layoff and potential lack of early speed, especially in a race that could favor forwardly placed runners. Mystik Dan (Post 5 – Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek) The Derby winner offers strong horse-for-course appeal with three wins at Churchill and enters off a sharp victory in the Blame Stakes (G3) over this track. He's razor sharp and should sit a perfect stalking trip. If the price floats above 4-1, he may be the best value play in the race. Mindframe (Post 2 – Irad Ortiz Jr., Todd Pletcher) Mindframe is the wildcard. He's 4-for-6 lifetime and enters off a victory in the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) sprinting. The key question: can he carry his speed around two turns? Pletcher has stretched sprinters out successfully before, and Ortiz sticks. He'll be near the pace early and could control things if no one pressures him. Hit Show (Post 6 – Florent Geroux, Brad Cox) Fresh off a career-defining win in the $12 million Dubai World Cup, Hit Show looms as the class of the field. But he's been off since April and will be spotting fitness to sharper foes. Trainer Brad Cox wins 24% off layoffs and this 5-year-old can certainly win—but he may be an underlay given the circumstances. First Mission (Post 1 – Luis Saez, Brad Cox) A sneaky contender, First Mission exits a win in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) and draws the rail. He'll need to use some early speed to avoid getting shuffled back, but Saez is aggressive and Churchill has been kind to inside speed horses. He's capable of upsetting the apple cart with the right trip. Skippylongstocking (Post 3 – Jose Ortiz, Saffie Joseph Jr.) A battle-tested 6-year-old with back-class, 'Skippy' exits wins in the Gold Cup (G2) and Challenger (G3). He was third in this race last year and thrives at this distance. If the pace gets hot up front, he'll be one to watch flying late at a price. Ashcroft (Post 7 – Julien Leparoux, D. Wayne Lukas) The longest shot in the field, Ashcroft steps way up in class and looks overmatched on paper. He's more of a pace factor than a win candidate. With a Breeders' Cup Classic berth on the line and major betting value throughout the field, the 2025 Stephen Foster shapes up as a can't-miss race for fans and horseplayers alike. You can get the picks and plays over at
UPI
02-06-2025
- Sport
- UPI
Derby winner Mystik Dan finally wins again
1 of 3 | Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan triumphs in Saturday's Blame Stakes. Photo courtesy of Churchill Downs June 2 (UPI) -- The 2024 Kentucky Derby winner finally returned to the winner's circle in a high point of weekend horse racing, while next weekend's finale of this year's Triple Crown series shaped up as a showdown between the Derby and Preakness winners. On the international scene, Croix du Nord won the Japanese Derby and Camille Pissarro captured the French Derby, so it's a weekend to tip the derby to the year's best 3-year-olds. The coming week includes four stakes-packed days at Saratoga's Belmont Stakes festival and a similar clutch of big races on Epsom Down surrounding the Derby and Oaks. It's a big one. Meanwhile ... The Triple Crown Next Saturday's $2 million Grade I Belmont Stakes at Saratoga is shaping up as a showdown between Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty and Preakness winner Journalism. Sovereignty defeated Journalism in the Derby and skipped the Preakness, so it's not quite a rubber match. But it certainly will carry bragging rights. If there was any doubt of Journalism making his third start in a span of five weeks, trainer Michael McCarthy dispelled it after the colt turned in a strong half-mile work Sunday at Saratoga. Classic The 2024 Kentucky Derby winner, Mystik Dan, returned to the scene of that triumph to complete something of a comeback with a professional victory in Saturday's $275,000 Grade III Blame Stakes. With Derby-winning jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. in the irons, the 4-year-old saved ground all the way around the Churchill Downs track, cut the corner into the stretch while others swung wide and wasn't challenged in the final furlong. He finished the 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.45. After winning the Derby, Mystik Dan finished second in the Preakness and eighth in the Belmont. Trainer Kenny McPeek soldiered on with him after a break, finishing sixth in the Grade I Malibu at Santa Anita in December and ninth in the Grade I Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park in January. He finally got back to form with a runner-up showing in the Lake Ouachita Stakes at Oaklawn Park on May 3. At Woodbine, Classic Mo Town seized the lead near the sixteenth pole in Saturday's $175,000 (Canadian) Grade II bet364 Eclipse Stakes and won by 3/4 length over Webslinger. Distaff Royal Spa took a wide swing into the stretch in Saturday's $275,000 Shawnee Stakes for fillies and mares at Churchill Downs, worked to the lead and cleared to win by 1 1/4 lengths. On Saturday at Woodbine, Caitlinhergrtness split rivals nearing the top of the stretch in the $180,000 (Canadian) Grade III Belle Mahoney Stakes and kicked away to win by 5 lengths. Turf Mercante won Saturday's $275,000 Grade III Arlington Stakes at Churchill Downs. In the 3-year-old companion $275,000 Audubon Stakes, World Beater edged King of Ashes in the final yards to win by a neck. Saturday's $100,000 Jersey Derby came off the Monmouth Park turf, and the field was scratched down to just three. Barbadian Runner did his best running late to get the win by 7 1/4 lengths. Filly & Mare Turf Pin Up Betty rallied five-wide into the stretch to win Sunday's $250,000 Grade III Old Forester Mint Julep Stakes at Churchill Downs. A day earlier, Fionn rallied from last of nine to take the $275,000 Regret Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. Turf Sprint Ms. Tart led a trio of long shots home in Saturday's $150,000 (Canadian) Grade III HPIbet Royal North Stakes at Woodbine, finishing 1/2 length ahead of Ready to Jam with Ticker Tape Home third. The favorite, Earhart, finished last and the upset generated tote board-busting returns, including $854.80 for a 20-cent trifecta ticket. Ms. Tart, a 4-year-old Maximus Mischief filly, ran 6 1/2 furlongs on good turf in 1:15.56 with Huber Villa-Gomez posting the winning ride. Sprint Nysos dueled his way to the lead in Saturday's $100,000 Grade III Triple Bend Stakes at Santa Anita, and then left three rivals in the dust as he drew off to win by 5 1/2 lengths as the odds-on favorite. The win improved Nysos's record to four wins and one second from five starts. "Now from here we can build and pick our spots," winning trainer Bob Baffert said after the Triple Bend. "Eventually, on to the Breeders' Cup." Durante let the favorites do all the early work in Saturday's $275,000 Grade III Aristides at Churchill Downs, and then came along to pick up the pieces, winning by 1 length over World Record. Patches O'Houlihan was a late scratch from Saturday's $150,000 (Canadian) Grade III Jacques Cartier Stakes, leaving just three to contest the 6 furlongs on the Woodbine all-weather course. Old Chestnut led the other two throughout and won by 2 3/4 lengths over the odds-on favorite, Simcoe. Filly & Mare Sprint R Disaster bid adieu to her five rivals in the stretch run of Saturday's $100,000 Rehoboth Stakes at Delaware Park, scooting off to a 6 1/2-length victory. The 4-year-old Awesome Slew filly, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., ran 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:09.83 for jockey Jorge Ruiz. Sweet Azteca was a late scratch from Sunday's $100,000 Desert Stormer Stakes at Santa Anita, leaving just three to face the starter. Super Shine led the other two throughout the 6 furlongs and won by 2 lengths from Chismosa with Fayette Fox another 4 1/4 lengths back in third. Super Shine, an Argentine-bred mare by Super Saver, ran 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:09.46. Hector Berrios had the mount for trainer Phil D'Amato. Around the world, around the clock Japan Croix du Nord forged back to the top of Japan's 3-year-old crop with an uneventful, impressive victory in Sunday's Grade 1 Tokyo Yushun or Japanese Derby. The Kitasan Black colt stalked the pace, surged to the lead when asked by jockey Yuichi Kitamura and won by 3/4 length over Masquerade Ball. Shohei, named after Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, was third. Croix du Nord won the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes in December and was named Japan's top 2-year-old of 2024. He was the favorite in both the Satsuki Sho and the Toyko Yushun. France Camille Pissarro won Sunday's Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club or French Derby at Chantilly by 1/2 length over Cualificar and another neck from Detain. Trapped along the rail approaching the final 150 meters, jockey Ryan Moore sniffed out a narrow opening and pointed Camille Pissarro into it. He responded and the race was over. Coolmore "lad" Michael Tabor said in the combination of Camille Pissarro, Moore and O'Brien, he and his partners had "the best horse, the best trainer and the best jockey," Racing Post reported. And while the victory carried an entry into October's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, O'Brien was in no hurry to commit to that. Hong Kong Helios Express has been chasing all-world sprinter Ka Ying Rising through much of the 2024-25 Hong Kong season. Freed from that one's shadow, he overcame a slow start to rally from last and win Saturday's Group 3 Sha Tin Vase by just more than a head bob from Invincible Sage. The remarkably consistent runner had finished second five times and third on two other occasions to Ka Ying Rising in seven starts this campaign.
Hamilton Spectator
01-06-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan snaps 5-race losing skid with win in Blame at Churchill Downs
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Mystik Dan snapped a five-race losing streak with a 1 1/4-length victory in the $270,000 Blame Stakes on Saturday at Churchill Downs, where he won the 2024 Kentucky Derby. Mystik Dan won the 150th Derby by a nose in the closest three-horse photo finish since 1947. After that, his skid included a second in the Preakness, an eighth in the Belmont at Saratoga and a ninth in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational. 'In hindsight, I wish I could take away a couple of those races after the Triple Crown,' trainer Ken McPeek said. 'We got him back to his old self.' Reminiscent of that race, Mystik Dan relaxed off the pace along the inside rail, cut the corner at the top of the stretch and powered home Saturday under Brian Hernandez Jr. 'When Mystik Dan is right, he's such a fun horse to ride because he makes my job so easy,' Hernandez said. Mystik Dan 1 1/8 miles in a stakes record time of 1:48.45. He paid $8.12 to win as the 3-1 third choice. Antiquarian was second and 2-1 favorite Post Time was third. The victory, worth $166,710, increased Mystik Dan's career earnings to $4,417,570. ___ AP horse racing:
Winnipeg Free Press
01-06-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan snaps 5-race losing skid with win in Blame at Churchill Downs
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Mystik Dan snapped a five-race losing streak with a 1 1/4-length victory in the $270,000 Blame Stakes on Saturday at Churchill Downs, where he won the 2024 Kentucky Derby. Mystik Dan won the 150th Derby by a nose in the closest three-horse photo finish since 1947. After that, his skid included a second in the Preakness, an eighth in the Belmont at Saratoga and a ninth in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational. 'In hindsight, I wish I could take away a couple of those races after the Triple Crown,' trainer Ken McPeek said. 'We got him back to his old self.' Reminiscent of that race, Mystik Dan relaxed off the pace along the inside rail, cut the corner at the top of the stretch and powered home Saturday under Brian Hernandez Jr. 'When Mystik Dan is right, he's such a fun horse to ride because he makes my job so easy,' Hernandez said. Mystik Dan 1 1/8 miles in a stakes record time of 1:48.45. He paid $8.12 to win as the 3-1 third choice. Antiquarian was second and 2-1 favorite Post Time was third. The victory, worth $166,710, increased Mystik Dan's career earnings to $4,417,570. ___ AP horse racing:
