Horse Racing: Preview of the 2013 Man O’ War Stakes at Belmont Park

In this weekend’s Horse Racing Race of the Week we will be taking a closer look at the 2013 Man O’ War Stakes on the turf at Belmont Park in New York where Boisterous has been installed as the 9/5 morning line favorite.

In fact the entire weekend of racing, by and large, is mainly a grass weekend. As I looked around at the major races being run at the major tracks around the country, I found the majority of big races were on the turf.

Three of the four feature races at ArlingtonPark on Saturday are all on the turf.

Starting with the Modesty Handicap for 3 year old and up fillies and mares, which features the unbeaten in 2013, La Tia, then moves to the Arlington Handicap, a 1 ¼ mile turf race for three year olds and up and features General Election, who won the Arlington Classic Stakes in his last race and the American Derby which features one of the most outstanding looking horses I’ve seen in recent memory and former Triple Crown contender Dullahan.

The feature race out west at Betfair Hollywood Park is the $350,000 American Oaks for three year old fillies going 1 ¼ on the turf, where I believe Emollient, who was so dominant while winning the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland (by 9 lengths), yet then disappointed in the Black Eyed Susans at Pimlico in her last start, should be the one to beat despite making her grass debut.

While we are on the subject of Hollywood Park, earlier on the card you should probably take notice of the second race, the Landaluce Stakes, for two year old fillies going six furlongs. The aptly named She’s a Tiger, who is a half brother to crack sprinter Smiling Tiger and who absolutely demolished her foes in her debut (she won by 9, under wraps and sizzled five furlongs in :57.2) will make her second, and highly anticipated, start.

Two races later is the Hollywood Park Juvenile Championship for two year old colts at six furlongs. Its’ an interesting race being that there are several first time starters in the race which I find odd. I mean, you have your colt’s first start in a $150,000, Grade:3 race?

Back on the east coast and at Colonial Downs is the $500,000 Virginia Derby, a Grade: 2 race on the grass at 10 furlongs. Budding turf superstar Rydilluc, a dominant winner in four of his last five starts, clearly looks like the one to beat.

The last major race I saw was the $300,000, mile and a sixteenth, Delaware Oaks at DelawarePark. There are no real big names in the race but Maracuya, a winner of two of three including a solid fourth place finish in the Black Eyed Susans and Tell a Great Story, who has won three of five career starts including the Go for Wand Stakes in her last, look to spearhead the field.

BelmontPark – Saturday, July 13, 2013

Race 9 – 5:17 PM

Man o’ War Stakes (Grade I)

Purse $600,000

For Three Year Olds and Upward

One and Three Eighth Miles. (Inner turf)

Analysis:

1) Boisterous- it must be nice to be Shug McGaughey nowadays. I mean, he’s got one of the best, if not the best, three year old colts in the nation (Orb) and turf monster Point of Entry in his barn.

What’s that you say?…Point of Entry went down with an injury recently? No problem for Shug….he just unplugs Point of Entry and plugs in this six year old, well bred (Distorted Humor-Emanting by Cox’s Ridge) horse.

This good looking stretch runner is 5-3-2-0 in his last five, including a very nice win at MonmouthPark (in a Grade: 2 race) in his last.

“He ran really well down at Monmouth and has done real well since then.” McGaughey said.

He is batting .500 on the turf (20 starts, 10 wins), handles any surface (soft or firm turf), is 3 for 4 at this distance and workouts are strong and steady…..looks best.

2) Optimizer- is a far superior horse on the grass than he is on the dirt.

Of his 26 career races, 14 have been on the turf where he’s finished on the board in 10 of those 14 (including five wins), yet just two on the board finishes (a second and a third) out of 12 starts on the dirt.

Looking back at his past performances, he really hasn’t run a bad race in his last nine races dating back to Nov. 2012….gets call for the place spot based on consistency.

3) Twilight Eclipse- evidently doesn’t like anything but a firm surface. Once again, as I looked back into his past performances I noticed anytime be bombed it was over a turf course with moisture in it, while all his firm start grass races have been very good.

Closes, has already won at longer distances, 4 for 8 on the turf in his career and might turn out to be a formidable rival on Saturday afternoon.

Honorable Mentions:

Al Khali is a veteran grass runner who is still capable of popping a big race now and again…..Speaking of Which has struggled on the west coast upon his arrival in this country (From Ireland), but was a very impressive winner of an optional claimer race (got a mile and a sixteenth in a quick 1:41) at Monmouth in his last….the proverbial “dark horse” in this race…. Exclusive Strike owns 12 career wins (including 3 for 5 over the Belmont turf) on the grass and comes into this in what appears to be peak form (back to back wins). But please note, he does step way up in class in this race….outside shot?

Record: 10-33 = 30%

Little Bets and Pieces:

**** Trainer Bob Baffert said last Monday that Paynter, who won his comeback race June 14 while getting seven furlongs in a screaming 1:21.4, could possibly run again in the San Diego Handicap July 27 at Del Mar.

The big, good looking 4-year-old worked six furlongs in 1:12 1/5 at Santa Anita Park also last Monday.

“He worked great today,” Baffert said via Twitter. “(It) looks like he might be headed (to the San Diego).”

The San Diego is a local prep for the $1 Million Pacific Classic later in the Del Mar meet.

Paynter won the Haskell Invitational at MonmouthPark before taking ill and making nothing short of a miraculous comeback

Paynter will try to build on his amazing comeback in about 2 weeks

**** In perhaps one of the more interesting story’s of the week, the remains of 1970 Kentucky Derby winner Dust Commander have been discovered at a farm near Pairs Ky. and relocated to the Kentucky Derby Museum in Louisville, Ky.
There was a July 8 ceremony in the museum’s garden where the connections of Dust Commander gathered including owner Verna Lehmann, jockey Mike Manganello, and trainer Don Combs.

Dust Commander’s remains were first thought to be buried in an unmarked location on the Paris farm that later changed ownership and the property was then divided.

Members of the Lehmann family had been searching for Dust Commander’s burial site for many years and it was finally discovered on July 5

Dust Commander, who was a 15-1 shot but won the Derby by 5 lengths, will be buried next to four other Derby winners honored on the Museum’s property: Carry Back (1961), Swaps (1955), Brokers Tip (1933), and Sunny’s Halo (1983).

“Myself and the entire Lehmann family are sincerely grateful to all those involved in locating the lost remains of Dust Commander,” Verna Lehmann said. “It gives all of us and all of the fans who loved this horse, final closure and peace, knowing that his final resting place will be at the Derby Museum.”

“Dust Commander’s Kentucky Derby victory will now be celebrated with daily visits through the museum’s garden area as our guests visit the gravesites of these tremendous athletes,” said Lynn Ashton, the museum’s executive director.

At stud, Dust Commander stood at Golden Chance Farm, Gainesway Farm, Springland Farm, and in Japan. He died at Springland on October. 7, 1991. 

The story of the week goes to 1970 Kentucky Derby winner Dust Commander

**** Jockey Russell Baze extended his all-time leading win total for a jockey to 12,000 even when Handful of Pearls won by a nose in the 11th race July 7 at the Alameda County Fair meet in California.

The milestone win was the fourth of the day for the 54-year-old Baze

“That was a lot of fun,” Baze said afterwards. “I was really glad to do it today because my family was here.”

Baze, who is already in the Racing Hall of Fame, is North America’s second leading rider by wins in 2013 with 189 (one behind leader Joel Rosario through July 7).

Russell Baze has won a mind boggling 12,000 races

**** Grade: 1 winner Eddington, who ranks amongst the most kindest and gentlest horses I’ve ever been around, has been relocated to Ballena Vista Farm in Ramona, Calif.

The 2005 Pimlico Special Handicap winner previously stood at the legendary Claiborne Farms in Kentucky.

The strapping chestnut’s progeny that have earned more than $10 million, with 163 winners from 228 starters (through July 7). Secret Circle, winner of the Rebel Stakes and Southwest Stakes, is currently his best offspring to date.

The mammoth Eddington, who is as gentle as a lamb, is on the move.

**** 2013 Preakness Stakes winner Oxbow arrived at Saratoga Racetrack recently to begin preparing for his summer campaign which will include the $1 million Haskell Invitational Stakes on Sunday, July 28 at Monmouth  Park, and then the Travers towards the end of August back at Saratoga said trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

In the Haskell, he will likely face Wood Memorial winner Verrazano, and Grade: 2 Pegasus Stakes Power Broker

The Haskel and Travers are both on Oxbow’s (pictured) agenda this summer.

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